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    Podían (en. Could)

    /poˈðian/

    Meaning & Definition

    EnglishSpanish
    verb
    It indicates capacity or possibility in the past.
    They could study all night.
    Ellos podían estudiar toda la noche.
    It is used to express permission or possibility in past contexts.
    When they were young, they could go out alone.
    Cuando eran jóvenes, podían salir solos.
    Sometimes it refers to the opportunity to do something in the past.
    At the party, they could dance until dawn.
    En la fiesta, podían bailar hasta el amanecer.

    Etymology

    It derives from the verb poder, from Latin 'posse'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    They could do it if they wanted to.
    It expresses that they had the ability to achieve something.
    Podían hacerlo si querían
    If they could, we could too.
    It indicates that if others achieved something similar, then the possibility exists as well.
    Si ellos podían, nosotros también
    Before, they could enter without any problem.
    It refers to a freedom that existed in the past.
    Antes podían entrar sin problema

    Related Words

    to be able
    Verb that indicates ability, authority, or permission.
    poder
    been able
    Past participle of the verb poder, used as an adjective or to form compound tenses.
    podido
    they can
    Present tense form of the verb poder in the third person plural.
    pueden

    Slang Meanings

    It refers to an informal ability among friends.
    If you wanted them to help you, you just had to say they could.
    Si querías que te ayudaran, solo tenías que decir que podían.
    In a party context, it implies that there is freedom of action.
    In this house, everyone could do whatever they wanted.
    En esta casa, todos podían hacer lo que quisieran.