estaba diciendo

was saying

→ estar

phrase Very common #1,625

was saying A past progressive form meaning “was saying” or “was telling,” depending on context. The subject can be understood from context; “estaba” can refer to I, he, she, or usted.

SP: No escuché lo que estaba diciendo.

EN: I didn’t hear what he was saying.

Me costó un rato largo el asimilar lo que ella estaba diciendo.

It took me a long time to process what she was saying.

Tom fingió no entender lo que Mary estaba diciendo.

Tom pretended not to understand what Mary was saying.

Le estaba diciendo lo mismo.

I was telling him the same thing.

— The Smashing Machine (2025)

André, usted escuchó lo que yo estaba diciendo.

André, you heard what I was saying.

— Tropa de élite 2 (2010)

Estaba diciendo que necesitas dinero.

I was saying that you need money.

— Super 30 (2019)

Sí, se lo estaba diciendo.

Yes, I was telling him/her.

— Las diabólicas (1955)

Tom no pudo oír lo que estaba diciendo Mary.

Tom couldn’t hear what Mary was saying.

Me fue muy difícil entender lo que él estaba diciendo.

It was very difficult for me to understand what he was saying.

No pude entender lo que él estaba diciendo.

I couldn't understand what he was saying.

Yo sólo estaba diciendo la verdad.

I was just telling the truth.

— Tropa de élite 2 (2010)

Es lo que estaba diciendo.

That's what I was saying.

Eso es lo que estaba diciendo.

That's what I was saying.

Estaba diciendo la verdad.

I was telling the truth.

— Ne Zha (2019)

Es lo que te estaba diciendo.

That's what I was telling you.

No escuché lo que Tom estaba diciendo.

I didn't hear what Tom was saying.

Tom no pudo entender lo que Mary estaba diciendo.

Tom couldn't understand what Mary was saying.

Me estaba diciendo.

He was telling me.

— [REC] (2007)

No sé que estaba diciendo.

I don't know what I was saying.

— París, je t'aime (2006)

Me costaba bastante entender lo que estaba diciendo.

I had a hard time understanding what he was saying.

El cabrón no estaba diciendo nada.

The bastard wasn't saying anything.

— Haz lo que debas (1989)

Fue bastante difícil para mí entender lo que él estaba diciendo.

It was quite difficult for me to understand what he was saying.

Esto es lo que estaba diciendo, papá.

This is what I was saying, Dad.

— Dangal (2016)

Walter estaba diciendo que quiere que vayas a conocer al Director del estudio.

Walter was saying that he wants you to go and meet the studio director.

— Primate (2026)

Juraría que estaba diciendo la verdad.

I swear I was telling the truth.

Tomé nota de lo que él estaba diciendo.

I took note of what he was saying.

Como estaba diciendo, estábamos encantados por la belleza de todo esto.

As I was saying, we were delighted by the beauty of it all.

— Sacrificio (1986)

Vez es lo que yo estaba diciendo.

That's what I was saying.

— Piku (2015)