ellos jugaban

were playing, played

x u ˈɡ a b a n → jugar
jug play + aban 3rd-person plural imperfect (indicative or subjunctive)
verb · third plural · imperfect indicative Uncommon #17,236
were playing, played Imperfect tense (they/you all in Spain). Used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
SP: Cuando eran niños, jugaban en el parque todos los días.
EN: When they were kids, they played in the park every day.
Conjugation of jugar
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First jugaba jugábamos
Third jugaba jugaban
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First jugaba jugábamos
Third jugaba jugaban

Algunos animales jugaban en el prado.

Some animals were playing in the meadow.

Dos niños jugaban en la calle.

Two children were playing in the street.

Los niños jugaban bajo la atenta mirada del ama.

The children played under the watchful eye of the mistress.

Pensé que ustedes dos jugaban al tenis todos los fines de semana.

I thought you two played tennis every weekend.

Los policías jugaban al ajedrez en la comisaría.

The police officers were playing chess at the police station.

Muchos niños jugaban en el parque.

Many children were playing in the park.

Pensé que siempre jugaban fútbol los sábados.

I thought they always played football on Saturdays.

Los niños jugaban en el jardín.

The children were playing in the garden.

Jugaban cartas y él hizo trampa.

They were playing cards and he cheated.

— La princesa prometida (1987)

No sabía que ustedes jugaban al tenis de mesa.

I didn't know you guys played table tennis.

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Dos niños jugaban cerca de la casa.

Two children were playing near the house.

Jugaban con un arma.

They were playing with a gun.

— Mystic River (2003)

Los niños solo jugaban a matarse.

The children were just playing at killing each other.

— La piel que habito (2011)

Mis hermanos jugaban fútbol.

My brothers played soccer.

— La gran enfermedad del amor (2017)

Los niños jugaban con los imanes.

The children were playing with the magnets.

Jugaban al béisbol en el parque.

They were playing baseball in the park.

Ellos siempre jugaban tenis aquí.

They always played tennis here.

Los niños jugaban en el medio de la calle.

The children were playing in the middle of the street.

Las mujeres jugaban a las cartas.

The women played cards.

— Uno de los nuestros (1990)

Jugaban con las almohadas como si nada hubiera ocurrido.

They played with the pillows as if nothing had happened.