tomaba
“tomaba” means “was taking” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
was taking, used to take
Also: was grabbing, would take
📝 In Action
Ella siempre **tomaba** mi mano cuando cruzábamos la calle.
A1She always used to take my hand when we crossed the street.
Yo **tomaba** el libro de la mesa y empezaba a leer.
A2I would take the book from the table and start reading.
was drinking, used to drink
Also: was having
📝 In Action
Cuando hacía calor, mi abuela siempre **tomaba** limonada.
A1When it was hot, my grandmother always used to drink lemonade.
Yo **tomaba** la medicina a diario, por eso me sentía mejor.
A2I was taking the medicine daily, that's why I felt better.
was catching, used to take
Also: was making (a decision)
📝 In Action
Antes, él **tomaba** el autobús para ir a trabajar.
A2Before, he used to take the bus to go to work.
La junta **tomaba** decisiones muy importantes cada mes.
B1The board used to make very important decisions every month.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "tomaba" in Spanish:
was catching→was drinking→was grabbing→was having→was taking→would take→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tomaba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'tomaba' correctly to describe a repeated past action?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'tomar' comes from the Latin verb *tumāre*, which meant 'to swell' or 'to raise up.' Over time, the meaning shifted in Spanish to 'to lift' or 'to take hold of,' giving us the modern broad meanings of 'take,' 'grab,' and 'consume.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'tomaba' and 'tomó'?
'Tomaba' is the Imperfect tense, used for ongoing, habitual, or descriptive actions in the past (e.g., 'He used to take'). 'Tomó' is the Preterite tense, used for single, completed actions that happened at a specific point in the past (e.g., 'He took it once').
How do I know if 'tomaba' means 'to take' or 'to drink'?
Look at the object. If the object is a liquid (café, agua, cerveza) or medicine, it means 'to drink/consume.' If the object is a physical item, transportation, or an abstract concept (decisión, medida), it means 'to take/grab.'