tenía muchas ganas de

was really looking forward to

→ tener

phrase Rare #38,444

was really looking forward to Used to express strong desire or enthusiasm for something in the past. It is followed by an infinitive or a noun, such as “tenía muchas ganas de ir” or “tenía muchas ganas de esto.”

SP: Tenía muchas ganas de volver a verte.

EN: I was really looking forward to seeing you again.

Tenía muchas ganas de bailar con ella.

I really wanted to dance with her.

Tenía muchas ganas de ir a la fiesta, pero no pude.

I really wanted to go to the party, but I couldn't.

De verdad que tenía muchas ganas de ir a la fiesta, pero no pude.

I really wanted to go to the party, but I couldn’t.

Tenía muchas ganas de esto.

I was really looking forward to this.

— RRR (2022)

Hae-mi tenía muchas ganas de verte, Jong-su.

Hae-mi really wanted to see you, Jong-su.

— Burning (2018)

Tenía muchas ganas de venir a la boda.

I was really looking forward to coming to the wedding.

— Gully Boy (2019)