cuando era

when ... was

→ cuando

phrase Very common #1,102

when ... was A compositional phrase meaning "when" + "was." The subject is often omitted in Spanish, so in context it can mean "when I was," "when he was," "when it was," etc. Era is the imperfect form of ser.

SP: Vivíamos en Madrid cuando era niño.

EN: We lived in Madrid when I was a child.

Tom tuvo acné cuando era adolescente.

Tom had acne when he was a teenager.

A mí me pasó cuando era más mayor.

It happened to me when I was older.

— Fallen angels (Ángeles caídos) (1995)

Se estaba mejor cuando era peor.

Things were better when they were worse.

Cuando era seguro volver a tierra, los líderes del arca murieron.

When it was safe to return to land, the leaders of the ark died.

— Bugonia (2025)

Mi abuelo solía contarme historias de cuando era soldado.

My grandfather used to tell me stories from when he was a soldier.

La madre dice que le ponían pañales en la cara cuando era un bebé.

The mother says they used to put diapers on his face when he was a baby.

— System crasher (2019)

Le escribía a menudo cuando era un estudiante.

I used to write to him often when I was a student.

Cuando era hora de votar, se abstuvo.

When it was time to vote, he abstained.

Podría haber sido su niñera cuando era un bebé.

I could have been his nanny when he was a baby.

Sí, tal vez cuando era militar.

Yes, maybe when I was in the military.

Murieron cuando era un bebé.

They died when I was a baby.

— Lars y una chica de verdad (2007)

Verán, la tía Lucy hizo mucho por mí cuando era solo un osezno.

You see, Aunt Lucy did a lot for me when I was just a little bear cub.

— Paddington 2 (2017)

Visitó Japón cuando era presidente.

He visited Japan when he was president.

Visitó el Japón cuando era presidente.

He visited Japan when he was president.

Se acostó con Erzsi cuando era el director, ¿no?

He slept with Erzsi when he was the director, didn't he?

— El médico de Budapest (2020)

Tom aún mantiene el peso que tenía cuando era adolescente.

Tom still maintains the weight he had when he was a teenager.

No, cuando era grande.

No, when I was grown up.

— Roma (2018)

Lo conocí cuando era mesero.

I met him when he was a waiter.

— La vida es bella (1997)

Yo no era muy bueno bailando cuando era adolescente.

I wasn't very good at dancing when I was a teenager.

Ni siquiera cuando era un colegial.

Not even when I was a schoolboy.

— Indiana Jones y la última cruzada (1989)

Se fue cuando era bebé.

He left when he was a baby.

— Whiplash (2014)

Cuando era jóven, su padre pensaba muy bien de mi.

When I was young, her father thought very highly of me.

— Acantilado rojo (2008)

Cuando era una niñita, siempre había querido vivir bajo el agua.

When I was a little girl, I had always wanted to live underwater.

Hice esta caja de música para Charlotte cuando era bebé.

I made this music box for Charlotte when she was a baby.

— Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025)

Salimos cuando era demasiado tarde.

We left when it was too late.

Me gustaba este diario cuando era independiente.

I liked this newspaper when it was independent.

Mis papás solían llevarme cuando era pequeñita.

My parents used to take me when I was little.

— Suzume (2022)

Fue la amante del alcalde cuando era el director de la escuela.

She was the mayor's mistress when he was the school principal.

— El médico de Budapest (2020)

Me acuerdo cuando era de esa edad.

I remember when I was that age.

Como en los viejos tiempos, cuando era rápido y sucio.

Like in the old days, when it was quick and dirty.

— Juno (2007)