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loro stavano

were, stayed

ˈs t a . v a . n o → stare
stav stay; be + ano 3rd person plural imperfect
auxiliary · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Common #2,646
were Used with a gerund to form the past progressive, describing an action that was in progress.
IT: Stavano preparando la cena.
EN: They were preparing dinner.
Conjugation of stare
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First stavo stavamo
Second stavi stavate
Third stava stavano

Tom e Mary stavano guardando la CNN.

Tom and Mary were watching CNN.

Sono venuto perché la gente diceva che stavano uccidendo un bambino per strada.

I came because people said they were killing a child in the street.

— Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Il Castello dell’Infinito (2025)

Stavano ballando in spiaggia.

They were dancing on the beach.

Loro stavano bevendo dello champagne.

They were drinking champagne.

Stavano cucinando delle uova.

They were cooking some eggs.

Le sue guance stavano bruciando.

Her cheeks were burning.

Loro stavano spendendo soldi.

They were spending money.

Stavano discutendo di soldi.

They were discussing money.

Stavano morendo.

They were dying.

Mi hanno detto che stavano tornando indietro.

They told me they were going back.

Alcune delle persone nella folla stavano lanciando delle bottiglie di birra.

Some of the people in the crowd were throwing beer bottles.

Loro non stavano dormendo, vero?

They weren’t sleeping, were they?

Chi di noi stavano tenendo d'occhio?

Which of us were they keeping an eye on?

— L'organo genocida (2017)

Stavano provando a ucciderti.

They were trying to kill you.

I due uomini stavano bevendo in un bar.

The two men were drinking in a bar.

Cosa stavano mangiando Tom e Mary?

What were Tom and Mary eating?

Tutti i ragazzi stavano guardando Tom.

All the boys were looking at Tom.

Non stavano dormendo, vero?

They weren't sleeping, were they?

Tom e Mary stavano ascoltando la notizia.

Tom and Mary were listening to the news.

Sia Tom che Mary stavano gridando.

Both Tom and Mary were screaming.

I gatti stavano lottando.

The cats were fighting.

I cani di Sami non stavano abbaiando.

Sami's dogs weren't barking.

Sami e Layla stavano litigando su qualcosa.

Sami and Layla were arguing about something.

Tom e Mary stavano entrambi bevendo.

Tom and Mary were both drinking.

I debiti mi stavano soffocando.

My debts were suffocating me.

— Barfi! (2012)

Tom e Mary stavano lavorando assieme.

Tom and Mary were working together.

Cosa stavi facendo mentre ci stavano uccidendo?

What were you doing while they were killing us?

— Demon Slayer - Il treno Mugen (2020)

Perché stavano seguendo me.

Because they were following me.

— Porco Rosso (1992)

Probabilmente stavano leggendo o si erano addormentati.

They were probably reading or falling asleep.

— Die My Love (2025)

La polizia disse che stavano per rilasciare Tom.

The police said they were about to release Tom.

Se la stavano mangiando viva, Manu!

They were eating her alive, Manu!

— [REC] (2007)

Non sapeva che Tom e Mary stavano per farlo?

Didn't he or she know that Tom and Mary were about to do it?

Tutti stavano ridendo.

Everyone was laughing.

Loro stavano litigando.

They were arguing.

Stavano danzando il spiaggia.

They were dancing on the beach.

Tom e Mary non ci stavano dicendo la verità.

Tom and Mary weren't telling us the truth.

Non sapevo che Tom e Mary stavano ancora studiando il francese.

I didn’t know that Tom and Mary were still studying French.

Mi stavano portando in Germania, ma sono arrivata qui.

They were taking me to Germany, but I ended up here.

— Va' e vedi (1985)

Dissero che si stavano sentendo affamati.

They said they were feeling hungry.

Le mie sorelle stavano cucinando quando sono tornato a casa.

My sisters were cooking when I got home.

Stavano per ucciderlo.

They were about to kill him.

I soldati stavano sparando contro la gente.

The soldiers were shooting at people.

I poliziotti stavano controllando il nostro itinerario?

Were the police checking our route?

— Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Avevano un segreto che stavano nascondendo.

They had a secret they were hiding.

Stavano recitando il Corano.

They were reciting the Quran.

Tom e Mary stavano ballando sulla musica.

Tom and Mary were dancing to the music.

Stavano tutti fissando Tom.

They were all staring at Tom.

Loro si stavano criticando a vicenda.

They were criticizing each other.

Tom e Mary stavano già cenando quando sono arrivata a casa.

Tom and Mary were already having dinner when I got home.

Che cosa stavano fumando?

What were they smoking?

Tom e Mary stavano lavorando insieme.

Tom and Mary were working together.

Le ho detto che Tom e Mary stavano dicendo la verità.

I told her that Tom and Mary were telling the truth.

Tom e Mary stavano pianificando di fare una seconda luna di miele.

Tom and Mary were planning a second honeymoon.

I bambini stavano giocando nel parco.

The children were playing in the park.

Loro stavano spendendo denaro.

They were spending money.

Stavano dicendo la verità.

They were telling the truth.

— L'organo genocida (2017)

Mi stavano seguendo?

Were they following me?

— The Garden of Sinners Chapter 5: Paradox Paradigm (2008)

Stavano mangiando fagioli.

They were eating beans.

Mi hanno detto che stavano morendo.

They told me they were dying.

Hanno detto che si stavano sentendo nervose.

They said they were feeling nervous.

Si stavano criticando a vicenda.

They were criticizing each other.

Stavano pregando nella moschea.

They were praying in the mosque.

Non stavano bluffando.

They weren’t bluffing.

I tuoi ragazzi stavano solo giocando sulla spiaggia.

Your boys were just playing on the beach.

— Infernal Affairs (2002)

I gatti stavano combattendo.

The cats were fighting.

Tom e Mary stavano discutendo dei loro problemi con John.

Tom and Mary were discussing their problems with John.

Le cose stavano succedendo piuttosto velocemente.

Things were happening pretty fast.

Tom e Mary stavano indossando dei cappelli da Babbo Natale.

Tom and Mary were wearing Santa hats.

Sai benissimo cosa stavano chiedendo.

You know perfectly well what they were asking for.

— Tempo d'estate (1955)

Tom e Mary stavano passeggiando insieme.

Tom and Mary were walking together.

Stavano cantando l'inno nazionale.

They were singing the national anthem.

Tutti stavano ancora ridendo.

Everyone was still laughing.

Loro stavano cantando.

They were singing.

Stavano cucinando il pranzo.

They were cooking lunch.

I prezzi delle materie prime stavano aumentando.

Raw material prices were rising.

Che squadre stavano giocando?

Which teams were playing?

Stavano discutendo riguardo ai soldi.

They were arguing about money.

Lo stavano seguendo.

They were following him.

Mentre stavano attraversando la strada, una motocicletta ha investito Daniel.

While they were crossing the street, a motorcycle hit Daniel.

— Anatomia di una caduta (2023)

Perché Tom e Mary stavano ridendo?

Why were Tom and Mary laughing?

Le sue mani si stavano lavando.

His hands were washing.

Vi ho detto che Tom e Mary stavano dicendo la verità.

I told you that Tom and Mary were telling the truth.

Stavano provando ad ucciderla.

They were trying to kill her.

Sapevi che stavano piangendo tutti?

Did you know everyone was crying?

Lo sapevo che loro stavano mentendo!

I knew they were lying!

Gli stavano passando per la testa un milione di pensieri.

A million thoughts were running through his head.

Perché ci stavano dando la caccia.

Because they were hunting us.

— Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Stavano tornando indietro.

They were going back.

— I fiori della guerra (2011)

Sia Tom che Mary stavano piangendo.

Both Tom and Mary were crying.

Tom e Mary mi hanno detto che non stavano tornando a Boston.

Tom and Mary told me they weren't going back to Boston.

Sami e Layla stavano passeggiando insieme.

Sami and Layla were walking together.

Tom e Mary stavano giocando a football.

Tom and Mary were playing football.

Sapevate che stavano piangendo tutti?

Did you know everyone was crying?

Tom e Mary stavano lavorando ieri?

Were Tom and Mary working yesterday?

Dissero che non si stavano sentendo bene.

They said they weren’t feeling well.

Stavano ascoltando la radio.

They were listening to the radio.

Tutti i telefoni stavano suonando.

All the phones were ringing.

Loro stavano ascoltando attentamente la lezione.

They were listening attentively to the lesson.

Lo sapevo che stavano mentendo!

I knew they were lying!

Tutti stavano sussurrando.

Everyone was whispering.

Sapevi che Tom e Mary stavano dormendo?

Did you know that Tom and Mary were sleeping?

I dottori stavano curando i feriti.

Doctors were treating the wounded.

Loro stavano solo giocando.

They were just playing.

— The Orphanage (2007)

Stavano danzando.

They were dancing.

Gli uomini stavano trasportando il ragazzo all'ospedale.

The men were taking the boy to the hospital.

Mi stavano prendendo in giro.

They were making fun of me.

Stavano lottando nella strada.

They were fighting in the street.

I ragazzi sono sotto attacco, stavano difendendo un tulkun.

The boys are under attack, they were defending a tulkun.

— Avatar - La via dell'acqua (2022)

Mi hanno detto che stavano lavorando.

They told me they were working.

Si stavano baciando.

They were kissing.

— The Big Sick - Il matrimonio si può evitare... l'amore no (2017)

Le persone stavano iniziando a fissare.

People were starting to stare.

Stavano pregando in pubblico.

They were praying in public.

Non stavano ancora dormendo, vero?

They weren't asleep yet, were they?

Stavano saltando la scuola.

They were skipping school.

Alcune ragazze stavano giocando a tennis.

Some girls were playing tennis.

Le scale stavano per crollare.

The stairs were about to collapse.

— Fight Club (1999)

Tom e Mary stavano danzando sulla musica.

Tom and Mary were dancing to the music.

Stavano tutti sorridendo.

They were all smiling.

Ti ho detto che Tom e Mary stavano dicendo la verità.

I told you Tom and Mary were telling the truth.

verb · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Rare #21,911
were, stayed The imperfect form of *stare*; the best translation depends on context.
IT: I bambini stavano a casa.
EN: The children were at home.
Conjugation of stare
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First stavo stavamo
Second stavi —
Third stava stavano

Ma non stavano qui dentro?

But weren't they in here?

— Un affare di famiglia (2018)

Stavano sempre insieme.

They were always together.

Quelle che prima stavano qui.

The ones that were here before.

— Roma (2018)

Stavano al caldo dentro casa mentre fuori nevicava forte.

They were warm inside the house while it was snowing heavily outside.

Stavano insieme nella scuola primaria?

Were they together in elementary school?

— Still Life (2006)

Mi dissero che stavano bene.

They told me they were fine.

Loro stavano bene.

They were fine.

Stavano con lui.

They were with him.

— Donne sull'orlo di una crisi di nervi (1988)

Tommaso e Maria hanno detto a Giovanni che stavano bene.

Thomas and Mary told John that they were fine.

Stavano semplicemente lì.

They were simply there.

— Le iene (1992)

Lo sapeva che Tom e Mary stavano insieme?

Did you know that Tom and Mary were together?

Lo sapevate che Tom e Mary stavano insieme?

Did you know that Tom and Mary were together?

Lo sapevi che Tom e Mary stavano insieme?

Did you know that Tom and Mary were together?

E allora perché gli attori stavano ancora sul palcoscenico?

So why were the actors still on stage?

— L'ultimo imperatore (1987)