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How to Say "was wearing" in Spanish

English → Spanish

llevaba

/yeh-VAH-bah//ʝeˈβaβa/

verbA1clothing or accessories
Use 'llevaba' to describe what someone was wearing at a specific moment or generally, focusing on the clothing or accessories themselves.
A person wearing a bright red scarf and a blue jacket.

Examples

Cuando la conocí, ella siempre llevaba gafas de sol.

When I met her, she always wore sunglasses.

Yo llevaba puesto mi uniforme viejo para trabajar en el jardín.

I was wearing my old uniform to work in the garden.

El director llevaba corbata azul esa mañana.

The director was wearing a blue tie that morning.

Describing Appearance

Use the imperfect form ('llevaba') to describe what someone looked like or what they had on as a background detail in a past story.

ponía

verbA2habitual attire
Use 'ponía' to describe a habitual or customary action of putting on or wearing certain attire, often for a specific occasion or routine.

Examples

Mi abuela ponía un pañuelo en la cabeza para ir a misa.

My grandmother used to wear a scarf on her head to go to mass.

Habitual vs. Descriptive Wearing

Learners often confuse 'llevaba' and 'ponía' by using 'ponía' for simple descriptions of what someone had on. Remember, 'ponía' implies a routine or a customary action, while 'llevaba' is for describing the clothing itself.

Related Translations

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