Yap.Town

ils restaient

were staying, remained

ʁ ɛ s . t ɛ → rester
rest stay, remain + aient they were ...ing (imperfect past)
verb · third plural · imperfect indicative Rare #39,893
were staying, remained Often means “were staying/remaining,” not “were resting.”
FR: Ils restaient à la maison parce qu'il pleuvait.
EN: They stayed at home because it was raining.
Conjugation of rester
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First restais —
Second restais —
Third restait restaient

Ceux qui étaient mariés restaient jamais jusqu'au matin.

Those who were married never stayed until morning.

— Les Invasions barbares (2003)

Ils restaient là avec les yeux grand ouvert.

They stood there with their eyes wide open.

Deux chaises restaient libres.

Two chairs remained free.

J'ai acheté tout ça avec les sous qui restaient.

I bought all this with the money I had left.

— Central do Brasil (1998)

Ils se cachaient, ils restaient dans leur coin.

They were hiding; they kept to themselves.

— Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959)

Sounds similar to

rester ʁ ɛ s . t e restez ʁ ɛ s . t e respect ʁ ɛ s . p ɛ restons ʁ ɛ s . t ɔ̃ resté ʁ ɛ s . t e resto ʁ ɛ s . t o restant ʁ ɛ s . t ɑ̃