refería
/reh-feh-REE-ah/
was referring
This illustration shows someone actively pointing out a detail, demonstrating the past continuous action of 'was referring' (refería).
refería(Verb (Imperfect Indicative Tense))
was referring
?Continuous past action
,used to refer
?Habitual past action
meant
?Implied intention in the past
📝 In Action
Ella siempre se refería a su abuela como 'la jefa'.
B1She always referred to her grandmother as 'the boss'.
¿A qué hora refería él el informe a la junta?
B2At what time was he referring the report to the board?
Cuando me refería a 'el otro día', hablaba de la semana pasada.
B1When I was referring to 'the other day,' I was talking about last week.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense's Job
The imperfect tense ('refería') paints a picture of the past. It shows continuous actions, habits, or descriptions, unlike the preterite tense, which marks a completed, single action.
Common Reflexive Use
In Spanish, we usually add 'se' (se refería) when talking about referring to something or someone. This is the most common way you will hear and use this verb.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'refirió' (preterite) when describing a repeated action: 'Cada día refirió el tema.'"
Correction: Use the imperfect for repeated actions: 'Cada día refería el tema.' (Every day, he/she used to refer to the topic.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
Use 'refería' to describe the background or setting of a story: 'Mientras él refería la historia, el público reía.' (While he was telling the story, the audience was laughing.)
The act of telling a narrative or giving a report is captured here, illustrating the meaning 'was relating' (refería).
refería(Verb (Imperfect Indicative Tense))
was relating
?Telling a story or report
used to recount
?Habitual narration
📝 In Action
El cronista refería las batallas en su diario personal.
B2The chronicler used to recount the battles in his personal diary.
La anciana refería las leyendas de su pueblo con una voz dulce.
C1The old woman was relating the legends of her town with a sweet voice.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Language
When you need a sophisticated word for 'to tell a story' or 'to report information' in a past continuous setting, 'refería' is an excellent choice for B2+ learners.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: refería
Question 1 of 2
Which of these situations requires the use of 'refería' (imperfect tense) rather than 'refirió' (preterite tense)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'refería' used for 'I,' 'he,' 'she,' or 'they'?
'Refería' is the same form for the first person singular (yo - I), the third person singular (él/ella/usted - he/she/you formal), and the third person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes - they/you plural formal) in the imperfect indicative tense. You need the context or the pronoun to know who is doing the action.
What is the most common way to use 'referir'?
The most common way is the reflexive form, 'referirse a' (to refer to). For example: 'Me refería a la reunión de ayer' (I was referring to yesterday's meeting).