quedaba
“quedaba” means “was left” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
was left, was remaining
Also: used to be left
📝 In Action
Después de la cena, solo quedaba un trozo de pastel.
A2After dinner, only one piece of cake was left.
Ella siempre se quedaba callada cuando su padre hablaba.
B1She always remained quiet when her father spoke.
Yo quedaba muy poco tiempo para terminar el proyecto.
A2I had very little time remaining to finish the project. (Used with 'yo')
was located, was situated
Also: used to be
📝 In Action
El viejo mercado quedaba justo al lado de la iglesia.
A1The old market was located right next to the church.
Yo siempre quedaba en esa esquina para esperar el autobús.
B1I always waited (was situated) on that corner to wait for the bus. (Context: Habitual staying)
fit, looked
Also: suited
📝 In Action
El sombrero le quedaba muy bien con su traje azul.
B1The hat looked very good (suited him/her) with his blue suit.
La ropa de niño me quedaba pequeña cuando tenía diez años.
B1The children's clothes fit me small when I was ten years old.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "quedaba" in Spanish:
fit→looked→suited→was left→was located→was remaining→was situated→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quedaba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quedaba' to describe a habitual action in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The infinitive verb 'quedar' comes from the Latin verb *quietare*, meaning 'to quiet,' 'to settle,' or 'to rest.' Over time, this evolved to mean 'to remain' or 'to be settled in a place.'
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'quedaba' and 'quedó'?
'Quedaba' (imperfect) describes an ongoing situation or habitual routine in the past (e.g., 'The store was always located there'). 'Quedó' (preterite) describes a single, finished action or result (e.g., 'Only one cookie was left'—the result of the eating).
Is 'quedaba' always related to location?
No, 'quedaba' is highly flexible. It can mean 'was located,' 'was left over' (quantity), or 'was fitting' (appearance). It all depends on the context and if it's used with or without the reflexive pronoun 'se'.