temía
“temía” means “I feared” in Spanish (continuous past action/state (Yo)).
I feared, He/She feared, I used to fear
Also: You were afraid (formal)
📝 In Action
Yo temía a la oscuridad cuando era pequeña.
A2I used to fear the dark when I was little.
Ella temía que el examen fuera muy difícil.
B1She feared that the exam would be very difficult.
Él siempre temía hablar en público, pero lo hacía.
B2He always feared speaking in public, but he did it.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "temía" in Spanish:
i feared→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: temía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'temía' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *timēre*, meaning 'to fear' or 'to be afraid of.' The imperfect ending -ía is standard for -er and -ir verbs in Spanish.
First recorded: Appeared in Spanish as 'temer' during the 10th-11th centuries.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'temía' means 'I feared' or 'He/She feared'?
You need to look at the context. If you don't see the pronoun (Yo, Él, Ella, Usted), the surrounding sentences or the conversation will usually make the subject clear. For example, if the previous sentence mentioned 'Mi jefe' (My boss), then 'temía' refers to him.
Is 'temer' a stem-changing verb?
No, *temer* is a regular -er verb in all of its main tenses, including the present, preterite, and imperfect, which makes it easier to conjugate than many other common verbs.