yo era

was, used to be, era, were

ˈe ɾ a → ser
verb · first singular · imperfect indicative Extremely common #62
was, used to be often describes a state or situation in the past
SP: Cuando era niño, vivía en Madrid.
EN: When I was a child, I lived in Madrid.
Conjugation of ser
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First era éramos
Second eras —
Third era eran
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First era éramos
Second eras —
Third era eran

Ese partido era muy importante para mí, financiera y personalmente.

That game was very important to me, both financially and personally.

— Los Tenenbaums. Una familia de genios (2001)

Luego me di cuenta de que era algo más.

Then I realized it was something else.

Era un amigo de la infancia.

He was a childhood friend.

— Carandiru (2003)

El juego era muy interesante.

The game was very interesting.

Era hora.

It was time.

Su asiento a bordo era del lado del pasillo.

His seat on board was on the aisle side.

Tomás era un paciente mío.

Tomás was one of my patients.

Como he dicho, era habitual.

As I said, it was common.

— Anatomía de una caída (2023)

Era para el estómago.

It was for the stomach.

— Vivir (1952)

Sí, y su pariente sólo era Fiel, hermano.

Yes, and his relative was only Faithful, brother.

— Cidade dos Homens (2007)

Tu abuelo era un gran hombre.

Your grandfather was a great man.

— Atlantis: El imperio perdido (2001)

Era de un rojo sólido.

It was a solid red.

Claro que lo era.

Of course it was.

Todo era por ella.

It was all because of her.

— Buena suerte, pásalo bien, no mueras (2026)

Era algún producto químico que estaban enviando.

It was some kind of chemical product they were sending.

— Sin piedad (2026)

Ahí era donde Neto entraba.

That's where Neto came in.

— Tropa de élite (2007)

Mary era animadora.

Mary was a cheerleader.

De pequeño era muy bajo.

He was very short as a child.

Dijiste que no te llamara si era mi clase.

You said not to call you if it was my class.

Era ella.

It was her.

— Whistle: El silbido del mal (2026)

La sal que le añadí a la pasta era de color rosa.

The salt I added to the pasta was pink.

Era una emboscada.

It was an ambush.

— El prisionero de las montañas (1996)

Se creyó que Ben era un criminal.

Ben was believed to be a criminal.

Tom era la persona más vieja de la sala.

Tom was the oldest person in the room.

Dijo que su dedo era una pistola.

He said his finger was a gun.

— Campo de sueños (1989)

Escuché que la temporada de Netflix era rara, pero esto es un montón.

I heard that the Netflix season was weird, but this is a lot.

— Mike y Nick y Nick y Alice (2026)

Jim era encantador.

Jim was charming.

— Eternity (2025)

Era confidencial.

It was confidential.

Era un día muy tranquilo en la bolsa de valores.

It was a very quiet day on the stock exchange.

Cícero era elocuente.

Cicero was eloquent.

Era la moda entonces.

That was the fashion back then.

— Sacrificio (1986)

Todo lo que dijiste era falso.

Everything you said was false.

Era yo.

It was me.

— Durante la tormenta (2018)

Esta era mi forma de salir de aquí.

This was my way out of here.

— Battle Royale (2000)

Era solo un niño.

He was just a kid.

La siguiente habitación era más espeluznante que la anterior.

The next room was more creepy than the previous one.

Kosovo era provincia de Serbia.

Kosovo was a province of Serbia.

Rubens era diputado.

Rubens was a member of parliament.

— Aún estoy aquí (2024)

El maldito de mi hermano era el único en casa.

My damn brother was the only one at home.

— The Chaser (2008)

En aquel entonces era estudiante.

At that time I was a student.

— El jardín de los pecadores: Paradigma paradoja (Paradoja espiral) (2008)

Era el deporte más popular de este país.

It was the most popular sport in this country.

Como era Jesus.

What was Jesus like?

— Malcolm X (1992)

Era un tipo muy alegre, Frank.

Frank was a very cheerful guy.

— Die My Love (2025)

Te he dicho que era arriesgado reunirse.

I told you that meeting up was risky.

— El imperio de las sombras (2016)

Tom era consciente del peligro.

Tom was aware of the danger.

Siempre me había preguntado qué era ese ruido.

I had always wondered what that noise was.

Realmente, Tom era un tipo agradable.

Tom really was a nice guy.

El mes pasado era noviembre, ¿verdad?

Last month was November, right?

Era mi última opción en ese momento.

It was my last option at that time.

Era casi mediodía cuando Tom despertó.

It was almost noon when Tom woke up.

Este libro era muy interesante.

This book was very interesting.

El clima era malo, por lo que el avión se retrasó.

The weather was bad, so the plane was delayed.

Era igual.

It was the same.

— Suspiria (1977)

Me pregunto si lo que he escrito era correcto.

I wonder if what I wrote was correct.

Más viejo, pero sí, era él.

Older, but yes, it was him.

— Érase una vez en… Hollywood (2019)

Su respuesta era incomprensible.

Their response was incomprehensible.

Pensé que la idea era brillante.

I thought the idea was brilliant.

— Anatomía de una caída (2023)

Era una noche tranquila.

It was a quiet night.

Tom era un perro como cualquiera.

Tom was a dog like any other.

Era para ver si usted quiere ir.

I just wanted to see if you'd like to go.

— Cidade dos Homens (2007)

Respecto a lo de antes, el león era yo.

Regarding what happened before, I was the lion.

— Astérix y Obélix: Misión Cleopatra (2002)

Era del hermano de tu bisabuelo.

It belonged to your great-grandfather's brother.

— Jugada maestra (2026)

Era un libro tan bueno que me lo leí tres veces.

It was such a good book that I read it three times.

La pesca era su última manía.

Fishing was his latest hobby.

Resultó que su marido era dentista.

It turned out that her husband was a dentist.

Era medianoche en el Bosque de los Aullidos.

It was midnight in the Howling Forest.

— La historia interminable (1984)

Matemáticas era su asignatura más débil en el colegio.

Mathematics was his weakest subject in school.

Fue un verano precioso, y el cielo era siempre azul.

It was a beautiful summer, and the sky was always blue.

Era amable.

He was kind.

— Roofman: Un ladrón en el tejado (2025)

Vaya, resulta que el problema era mucho más sencillo de lo que todos pensábamos al principio.

Well, it turns out the problem was much simpler than we all initially thought.

Mary era hermosa.

Mary was beautiful.

Él me dijo que el libro era interesante.

He told me the book was interesting.

Dijiste que nuestro ADN era idéntico.

You said our DNA was identical.

Pensaba que era un buen libro, pero Tom pensaba lo contrario.

I thought it was a good book, but Tom thought otherwise.

Era esa canción.

It was that song.

— Sin conexión (2025)

Fue divertido, pero no era lo mío.

It was fun, but it wasn't my thing.

— Eternity (2025)

Ese tipo era un idiota.

That guy was an idiot.

— Turno de noche (2026)

Necesito un arquitecto tan bueno como era yo.

I need an architect as good as I was.

Cuando mi corazón se rompió, el hip-hop era todo lo que tenía.

When my heart was broken, hip-hop was all I had.

— Gully Boy (2019)

Mi marido era toruk makto.

My husband was Toruk Makto.

— Avatar: El sentido del agua (2022)

Era una especie de amor inusual.

It was a kind of unusual love.

— Khrustalyov, mi coche! (1999)

Tom era mi amigo.

Tom was my friend.

Sí, mi padre también lo era.

Yes, my father was too.

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Era más fácil que estar con otra persona.

It was easier than being with someone else.

Él ni siquiera sabía qué era él.

He didn't even know what he was.

— Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Era cuando más inocente era.

That was when I was at my most innocent.

— No hay otra opción (2025)

Era un examen tan difícil que no tuvimos tiempo de terminarlo.

It was such a difficult exam that we didn't have time to finish it.

Singapur era una nación pobre.

Singapore was a poor nation.

El plan era quedarnos un mes más.

The plan was to stay for another month.

— Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja (1989)

Dónde te han dicho que era?

Where did they tell you it was?

— La dolce vita (1960)

Era sorpresa.

It was a surprise.

— Arco (2025)

Su conducta era teatral.

His behavior was theatrical.

Creo que era la poesía lo que mantenía sus almas unidas.

I think it was poetry that kept their souls united.

— Rang De Basanti (2006)

La casa tenía buen aspecto; aún más, el precio era justo.

The house looked good; moreover, the price was fair.

Era un tío estupendo.

He was a great guy.

— Un lugar en ninguna parte (1988)

En mi época, dos millones era mucho.

In my time, two million was a lot.

Lo era antes, quiero que vuelva a serlo.

It used to be, I want it to be again.

— Cadena perpetua (1994)

Era molesto.

It was annoying.

— Laurence Anyways (2012)

Era ciego de nacimiento.

He was blind from birth.

Pensé que el niño era un chico grande, Josh.

I thought the kid was a big boy, Josh.

— Bacurau (2019)

Era un ave asquerosa.

It was a disgusting bird.

— Caché (Escondido) (2005)

De pronto, mi padre ya no pensó que mi talento era inútil.

Suddenly, my father no longer thought my talent was useless.

— Ratatouille (2007)

Todo lo que Tom quería era que Mary lo dejara solo.

All Tom wanted was for Mary to leave him alone.

Sin embargo, el coche que te esperaba era el mismo que te dejó.

However, the car that was waiting for you was the same one that dropped you off.

— Ahora me ves 3 (2025)

Usted era la única que queda aquí.

You were the only one left here.

— Decision to Leave (2022)

Era una persona.

It was a person.

— Anaconda (2025)

Tom era uno de mis mejores alumnos.

Tom was one of my best students.

El hombre del cual lo heredé, tampoco era el verdadero Pirata Roberts.

The man from whom I inherited it was not the real Pirate Roberts either.

— La princesa prometida (1987)

Era perezosa.

She was lazy.

No, ésa era la de mi hermana.

No, that one was my sister’s.

— Uno de los nuestros (1990)

No, era de mi madre.

No, it belonged to my mother.

— El maquinista (2004)

Entonces un chico me dijo que era una mentira; que la policía lo tenía.

Then a boy told me it was a lie; that the police had him.

— Pixote, la ley del más débil (1980)

Cuando desperté, era famoso.

When I woke up, I was famous.

Alejandro Montes de Oca, Jano, era sobrino de la madre de Tenoch.

Alejandro Montes de Oca—Jano—was the nephew of Tenoch's mother.

— Y tu mamá también (2001)

Era un lugar horrible.

It was a horrible place.

— Audition (2000)

Era mesera y nos conocimos en la cafetería.

She was a waitress and we met at the cafeteria.

— La gran enfermedad del amor (2017)

Pero era muy amable.

But he was very kind.

— Crudo (2017)

Era amigo de su esposo.

He was a friend of her husband.

— El espejo (1975)

Smail Yefsah era un periodista argelino.

Smail Yefsah was an Algerian journalist.

Y ese alguien era Ben Richards.

And that someone was Ben Richards.

— The Running Man (2025)

Era este viernes y dijiste que vendrías.

It was this Friday and you said you would come.

— Uno de los nuestros (1990)

Era una flor muy bella.

It was a very beautiful flower.

Doctora, ¿El tiburón era macho o hembra?

Doctor, was the shark male or female?

— El agente secreto (2025)

Aunque Tom dijo que era feliz, no lo era.

Although Tom said he was happy, he wasn’t.

Era más que eso.

It was more than that.

— Las invasiones bárbaras (2003)

Su traje era gris y su corbata, amarilla.

His suit was gray and his tie was yellow.

Mi tía era actriz.

My aunt was an actress.

— La ciudad de las estrellas (La La Land) (2016)

Era culpa suya.

It was his fault.

El coste de construir el ferrocarril era demasiado alto.

The cost of building the railway was too high.

Lo que siempre quisiste de mi era que muriera.

What you always wanted from me was for me to die.

— La maldición de la flor dorada (2006)

Era un farsante.

He was a fraud.

— The Dreadful (2026)

El helado era la comida favorita de Tomás.

Ice cream was Tomás's favorite food.

Era la primera vez.

It was the first time.

A veces pienso que volvió a ser cómo era.

Sometimes I think they're back to the way they were.

— El tiempo contigo (2019)

Aquella era Madam Ding.

That was Madam Ding.

— Naturaleza muerta (2006)

Era su casa, su templo, su búnker.

It was his home, his temple, his bunker.

— Zeta (2026)

Era el jefe de las SS.

He was the head of the SS.

— Núremberg (2025)

Mire, era un vagabundo.

Look, he was a vagrant.

— Scream 7 (2026)

Era un viejo amigo.

He was an old friend.

— Porco Rosso (1992)

Tom era el mejor amigo de mi hija.

Tom was my daughter’s best friend.

Era muy amable.

He was very kind.

Aquiles era un héroe de la antigua Grecia.

Achilles was a hero of ancient Greece.

Era un buen día así que fuimos a pescar.

It was a nice day so we went fishing.

Cristóbal Colón creía que la tierra era redonda.

Christopher Columbus believed that the earth was round.

Japón ahora es muy diferente de lo que era hace veinte años.

Japan is very different now than it was twenty years ago.

Pensaba que sólo era conmigo.

I thought it was just me.

— Un lugar en ninguna parte (1988)

Era increíble.

It was incredible.

— Uno de los nuestros (1990)

Bob era tímido cuando era estudiante de preparatoria.

Bob was shy when he was a high school student.

El libro era mucho mejor.

The book was much better.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Era pobre y vivía en una pequeña cabaña.

He was poor and lived in a small cabin.

Un año después, era primera trompeta.

A year later, he was first trumpet.

— Whiplash (2014)

Había un cuerpo, era el de él.

There was a body, it was his.

Una cura era casi imposible.

A cure was almost impossible.

No, era una puerta como cualquier otra.

No, it was a door like any other.

— Caché (Escondido) (2005)

Entonces usted no puede creer con certeza que Jesus era blanco.

So you cannot believe with certainty that Jesus was white.

— Malcolm X (1992)

Dijiste que Jess era el peor novio del programa.

You said Jess was the worst boyfriend on the show.

— Mike y Nick y Nick y Alice (2026)

Era un momento muy inoportuno para tratar el asunto.

It was a very inopportune moment to discuss the matter.

Descubrí que Kate era rica.

I discovered that Kate was rich.

El doblaje de la película era muy malo.

The movie’s dubbing was very bad.

Como su nombre, era su trabajo.

Like his name, it was his job.

— Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)

Río ya no es más lo que era antes, todo cambió.

Rio is no longer what it used to be; everything has changed.

— Diarios de motocicleta (2004)

Perder toda esperanza era la libertad.

Losing all hope was freedom.

— El club de la lucha (1999)

Ellos sabían que era peligroso para ella.

They knew it was dangerous for her.

— La cinta blanca (2009)

Era mi deber informarle.

It was my duty to inform him.

— Mulholland Drive (2001)

No, no era ella.

No, it wasn't her.

Pero era su forma de vida.

But it was their way of life.

La princesa griega Alice era sorda y podía leer labios en tres idiomas.

The Greek princess Alice was deaf and could read lips in three languages.

Era así de grande.

It was this big.

— Thirst (2009)

Era terrible.

It was terrible.

— La ironía del destino, o goce de su baño (1976)

Solo era un presentimiento.

It was just a feeling.

El sonido era irritante, pero inofensivo para el cuerpo humano.

The sound was irritating, but harmless to the human body.

La única forma de calmar a Neuville era si Margot desaparecía.

The only way to calm Neuville down was for Margot to disappear.

— No se lo digas a nadie (2006)

La mujer era la rubia.

The woman was the blonde.

Grant era extremadamente popular.

Grant was extremely popular.

Era una historia.

It was a story.

— Ahora me ves 3 (2025)

Al principio no entendía lo que era.

At first I didn't understand what it was.

— Anatomía de una caída (2023)

Era médico.

He was a doctor.

— Good bye, Lenin! (2003)

Tom me dijo que pensaba que Mary era confiable.

Tom told me he thought Mary was trustworthy.

Su técnica era absolutamente increíble.

His technique was absolutely incredible.

O era.

Or was.

Era de Tom.

It was Tom's.

Ese puente era el puente de la paz.

That bridge was the bridge of peace.

Trabajar en el mundo de la moda era mi meta de toda la vida.

Working in the fashion world was my lifelong goal.

— Jugada maestra (2026)

Era la única forma de poder ver te.

It was the only way I could see you.

— Decision to Leave (2022)

Ya era más de la una cuando salimos de la fiesta.

It was already past one o'clock when we left the party.

Pilato preguntó qué era la verdad, pero Jesús no respondió.

Pilate asked what truth was, but Jesus did not answer.

Era Jackie Napalm.

It was Jackie Napalm.

— Mike y Nick y Nick y Alice (2026)

He vivido aquí desde que era un muchacho.

I've lived here since I was a boy.

Era su favorita.

It was her favorite.

— Delicatessen (1991)

Mi plan era irme temprano.

My plan was to leave early.

Era el mismo.

It was the same one.

Era una bolsa de azúcar.

It was a bag of sugar.

— Incontrolable (I Swear) (2025)

Tom era el tipo de hombre con el que te podías llevar bien.

Tom was the kind of man you could get along with.

Encontré que el problema era más sencillo de lo que esperaba.

I found the problem to be simpler than I expected.

Era muy bueno.

He was very good.

— Uno de los nuestros (1990)

Vi esa película, pero no era muy buena.

I saw that movie, but it wasn't very good.

Mi hija se va a casar y el vestido era formal.

My daughter is getting married and the dress was formal.

— Una batalla tras otra (2025)

El tío Teo era hermano de papá.

Uncle Teo was Dad's brother.

— Amarcord (1973)

Era inteligente.

He was intelligent.

Nuestro trabajo era defender a Willie.

Our job was to defend Willie.

— Algunos hombres buenos (1992)

noun · feminine Rare #25,691
era A time period in history (often used with an adjective, e.g., “la era moderna”).
SP: Vivimos en una nueva era de la tecnología.
EN: We live in a new era of technology.

Este es el inicio de una nueva era.

This is the beginning of a new era.

Es el final de una era y el principio de otra.

It's the end of one era and the beginning of another.

— GOAT: Como cabras (2026)

La revolución introdujo una nueva era.

The revolution ushered in a new era.

Nuestra era es una de especialistas.

Our era is one of specialists.

— TÁR (2022)

Unió a los clanes durante una era de gran tristeza.

He united the clans during an era of great sorrow.

— Avatar (2009)

Ambos saben, al aterrizar en El Segundo, que era el fin de una era.

Both of them knew, upon landing in El Segundo, that it was the end of an era.

— Érase una vez en… Hollywood (2019)

Fin de una era.

End of an era.

— Avatar: Fuego y ceniza (2025)

A la gran batalla de nuestra era.

To the great battle of our era.

— El señor de los anillos: El retorno del rey (2003)

Ningún país en la tierra está a salvo en esta era nuclear.

No country on earth is safe in this nuclear age.

Una era de éxito.

An era of success.

— SEND HELP (Enviad ayuda) (2026)

Un ejercito es una nación dentro de otra; es uno de los defectos de nuestra era.

An army is a nation within a nation; it is one of the flaws of our age.

La nueva era muy llamativa.

The new era is very striking.

— Deseando amar (2000)

auxiliary · third singular · imperfect indicative Rare #33,418
was, were Imperfect past form of “ser” (to be), used for descriptions, background, and ongoing situations in the past.
SP: Cuando era niño, vivía en México.
EN: When I was a child, I lived in Mexico.
Conjugation of ser
ser
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
Third era —

El anciano era querido por todos.

The old man was loved by everyone.

Nadie era torturado.

Nobody was tortured.

El inframundo japonés era gobernado por alguien llamado Minegishi.

The Japanese underworld was ruled by someone called Minegishi.

— Bullet Train (2022)

El anciano era acompañado por su nieto.

The old man was accompanied by his grandson.

Era amada.

She was loved.

Soñé que era abducido por los extraterrestres.

I dreamt that I was abducted by aliens.

El país era gobernado por una familia de la nobleza francesa.

The country was ruled by a family of the French nobility.

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