Inklingo

How to Say "mattered" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “mattered” is “importaba” — use 'importaba' (imperfect tense) when talking about something that was important or significant to someone in the past, often implying a continuous state or a general feeling.

English → Spanish

importaba

eem-por-TAH-bahim.porˈta.βa

verbA2general
Use 'importaba' (imperfect tense) when talking about something that was important or significant to someone in the past, often implying a continuous state or a general feeling.
A small, brightly glowing golden key resting on a small, purple velvet cushion, symbolizing its importance and value.

Examples

No me importaba lo que pensaran los demás.

I didn't care (it didn't matter to me) what others thought.

A ella le importaba mucho su trabajo.

Her job was very important to her.

Antes no nos importaba el dinero.

Money didn't matter to us before.

The 'Gustar' Structure

'Importar' works just like 'gustar' (to like). The thing that matters is the subject, and the person it matters to is shown by a small word (me, te, le, etc.) placed before the verb. Example: 'Me importaba' (It mattered to me).

Using the Imperfect Tense

'Importaba' describes a continuous or habitual state in the past. It means something 'used to matter' or 'was important' over a period of time, not just in one single moment.

Confusing the person who cares

Mistake: “Yo importaba la noticia. (Literally: I mattered the news.)”

Correction: A mí me importaba la noticia. (The news mattered to me.) Remember the person who cares needs 'me,' 'te,' or 'le' before the verb.

importó

verbA2general
Use 'importó' (preterite tense) when referring to a specific instance or event in the past where something was important or significant to someone, emphasizing the completion of that feeling or realization.

Examples

A él no le importó el resultado del partido.

The result of the game didn't matter to him.

importado

eem-por-TAH-dohim.porˈta.ðo

verbB1general
Use 'importado' as a past participle to describe the action of bringing goods into a country, not its use as a translation for 'mattered' in the sense of importance.
A large crane lifting a shipping container from a cargo ship onto a pier.

Examples

Mi empresa ha importado café desde Brasil.

My company has imported coffee from Brazil.

Nunca me ha importado lo que piensen los demás.

It has never mattered to me what others think.

Si te hubiera importado, habrías llamado.

If you had cared, you would have called.

The 'Haber' Helper

When using this as an action (verb), it stays as 'importado' and doesn't change its ending, as long as it follows the helper verb 'haber'.

Two Meanings

Remember this verb form can mean 'brought from abroad' OR 'was important/mattered' depending on the context.

Confusing 'importaba' and 'importó'

The most common mistake is confusing the imperfect ('importaba') and preterite ('importó') tenses when translating 'mattered'. Remember that 'importaba' describes a past state of importance (it used to matter, it generally mattered), while 'importó' refers to a specific past event (it mattered at that exact moment).

Related Translations

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