Inklingo

How to Say "we felt" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tuvimos

too-VEE-mos/tuˈβi.mos/

VerbA2General
Use 'tuvimos' when describing a temporary physical sensation or condition that you experienced, such as hunger, thirst, or cold.
Two friends sitting on a green hill at night, looking up in amazement at colorful fireworks exploding in the sky, symbolizing a shared experience.

Examples

¡Tuvimos mucho frío anoche!

We were very cold last night!

En ese momento, ¡tuvimos mucha sed!

In that moment, we were (had) very thirsty!

Después del concierto, todos tuvimos un poco de dolor de cabeza.

After the concert, we all had a slight headache.

Tener vs. Ser/Estar for Feelings

Unlike English, which uses 'to be' (we are cold), Spanish uses 'tener' (we have cold) for certain physical states like hunger, thirst, heat, and cold.

estuvimos

/es-too-VEE-mos//estuˈβimos/

VerbA1General
Use 'estuvimos' to talk about a temporary emotional or physical state or condition, often related to how you were in a specific place or time.
A simple storybook illustration showing two smiling children sitting side-by-side on a wooden park bench in a sunny park.

Examples

Estuvimos muy contentos en la fiesta.

We were very happy at the party.

Ayer estuvimos en la casa de mis abuelos toda la tarde.

Yesterday we were at my grandparents' house all afternoon.

¿Cómo les fue? Estuvimos muy preocupados por el retraso.

How did it go? We were very worried about the delay.

Estuvimos de vacaciones en México el mes pasado.

We were on vacation in Mexico last month.

The 'We' Form in the Past

Estuvimos is the 'we' form (nosotros) of the verb 'estar' (to be) in the simple past tense (preterite). It describes an action or state that started and finished completely in the past.

Ser vs. Estar Distinction

We use 'estar' (and thus 'estuvimos') for temporary things: location, feelings, health, or conditions that change. We use 'ser' (like 'fuimos') for permanent characteristics, identity, or origin.

Mixing up Estuvimos and Éramos

Mistake: “Éramos en el parque.”

Correction: Estuvimos en el parque. ('Éramos' is for permanent description, 'estuvimos' is for location.)

Mixing up Estuvimos and Fuimos

Mistake: “Estuvimos a la fiesta.”

Correction: Fuimos a la fiesta. ('Fuimos' is 'we went'; 'estuvimos' is 'we were' (already there).)

teníamos

VerbA2General
Use 'teníamos' to describe ongoing feelings or states in the past that are more like inherent conditions, such as being sleepy or having a specific age.

Examples

Teníamos mucho sueño esa mañana.

We were very sleepy that morning.

Physical Sensations vs. General States

The most common confusion is between 'tuvimos' for immediate physical feelings (like hunger, thirst) and 'estuvimos' for more general emotional or situational states. While both can describe temporary conditions, 'tuvimos' often focuses on bodily sensations.

Related Translations

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