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How to Say "i loved" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “i loved” is “amaba” — use 'amaba' (imperfect tense) to describe a love that was ongoing or habitual in the past, often implying it continued for a period or was a repeated action..

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amaba

ah-MAH-bah/aˈmaβa/

verbA1
Use 'amaba' (imperfect tense) to describe a love that was ongoing or habitual in the past, often implying it continued for a period or was a repeated action.
A young person sits on a green hill under a warm sun, gently stroking a large, friendly brown dog resting its head on the person's lap. The scene is peaceful and depicts continuous affection.

Examples

Yo amaba jugar con mis bloques cuando era pequeño.

I loved playing with my blocks when I was little.

Yo amaba ir al cine todos los sábados cuando era niño.

I used to love going to the movies every Saturday when I was a child.

Ella amaba la tranquilidad del campo, por eso se mudó.

She loved the tranquility of the countryside; that's why she moved.

Antes, mi abuelo amaba cultivar rosas en el jardín.

Before, my grandfather loved (or used to love) growing roses in the garden.

The Descriptive Past

This form ('amaba') is used to describe how things were in the past—like setting the scene, describing repeated actions, or explaining what was continuously happening.

Dual Subject Use

'Amaba' can mean 'I loved' (Yo) or 'He/She/You loved' (Él/Ella/Usted). You must use the subject pronoun or context to know who is doing the loving.

Confusing Past Tenses

Mistake: “Using 'amó' (the finished past) when describing a continuous state: 'Ella amó la música clásica por muchos años.'”

Correction: Use 'amaba' (the descriptive past) for ongoing states: 'Ella amaba la música clásica por muchos años.' ('Amó' would imply she loved it once, briefly, and it finished.)

amé

verbA2
Use 'amé' (preterite tense) to talk about a specific instance of love that started and finished in the past, or a strong, singular feeling of love.

Examples

Amé la película desde el primer momento.

I loved the movie from the first moment.

quería

verbA2
Use 'quería' (imperfect tense) when expressing a general affection or fondness for someone or something in the past, without a specific endpoint.

Examples

Ella quería mucho a su perro.

She loved her dog very much.

quise

/KEE-seh//ˈkise/

verbA2
Use 'quise' (preterite tense) to indicate a specific past affection or love for a person, pet, or thing, often implying a completed event or strong, singular feeling.
A young person gently hugging a large, fluffy golden retriever dog with a soft, affectionate expression, symbolizing 'I loved'.

Examples

La quise mucho durante nuestro tiempo juntos.

I loved her a lot during our time together.

Fue mi primer amor y la quise mucho.

She was my first love and I loved her a lot.

Siempre quise a mi abuela.

I always loved my grandmother.

Tuvimos ese perro por diez años, y lo quise como a un hijo.

We had that dog for ten years, and I loved him like a son.

Love as a Past Event

Using 'quise' to talk about loving someone often frames that love as a completed part of your life story, like looking back on a relationship that has ended or summing up your feelings for someone who is gone.

Amaba vs. Amé: Ongoing vs. Completed Love

The most common confusion is between 'amaba' and 'amé'. Remember that 'amaba' (imperfect) describes love that was ongoing or habitual, like 'I used to love'. 'Amé' (preterite) refers to a love that had a clear beginning and end, a completed feeling or action in the past.

Related Translations

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