ellos entendían

understood

→ entender
entend understand + ían they imperfect
verb · third plural · imperfect indicative Rare #38,464
understood Imperfect tense (they/you all understood; also used for ongoing or habitual past).
SP: Antes, no entendían las instrucciones.
EN: Before, they didn’t understand the instructions.
Conjugation of entender
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First entendía
Third entendía entendían
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First entendía
Third entendía entendían

Supuse que ustedes dos se entendían, basado en su línea de trabajo.

I assumed that you two understood each other, based on your line of work.

— The Running Man (2025)

Quizás no entendían que nuestra vida estaba en peligro.

Perhaps they didn't understand that our lives were in danger.

— Malèna (2000)

No lo entendían.

They didn't understand.

— Tropa de élite (2007)

Pero esos ricos estudiantes con conciencia social no entendían.

But those wealthy, socially conscious students didn't understand.

— Tropa de élite (2007)

Los antepasados lo entendían a la perfección.

Our ancestors understood it perfectly.

— Solaris (1972)

Tom y Mary no se entendían.

Tom and Mary didn't understand each other.