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ellos Estaban

were

e s ˈt a b a n → estar
estab to be, to be located + an ellos/ellas imperfect
verb · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Rare #28,772
were Used for a past state or location.
SP: Estaban en casa cuando empezó a llover.
EN: They were at home when it started to rain.
Conjugation of estar

¿Estaban solas en la casa?

Were they alone in the house?

— Jaula (2022)

¿Estaban igual que Judith?

Were they the same as Judith?

— Hamnet (2025)

¿Estaban en casa tu madre y tu padre?

Were your mother and father at home?

¡Estaban allí!

They were there!

— Perros de Reserva (1992)

¿Estaban casados esos dos?

Were those two married?

— Fresas salvajes (1957)

¿Estaban Tom y Mary en casa anoche?

Were Tom and Mary at home last night?

¿Estaban juntas en la escuela primaria?

Were they together in primary school?

— 三峡好人 (2006)

¿Estaban en una relación?

Were they in a relationship?

— El botín (2026)

Eran Sara y Je-¿Estaban Sara y Jessica allí?

Were Sara and Jessica there?

— Elefante (2003)

¿Estaban aquí?

Were they here?

— Moonrise Kingdom: Amor Infantil (2012)

¿Estaban ocupados la semana pasada?

Were you busy last week?

¡Estaban hacia dentro!

They were facing inward!

— Ace Ventura: Detective de Mascotas (1994)

¿Estaban emocionados?

Were they excited?

— 3 Idiotas (2009)

auxiliary · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Rare #55,468
were Used with a gerund to describe an action in progress in the past.
SP: Estaban preparando la cena.
EN: They were preparing dinner.
Conjugation of estar

¿Estaban bebiendo hasta la mañana?

Were they drinking until morning?

— गल्ली बॉय (2019)

¡Estaban bromeando!

They were joking!

— PK (2014)

¿Estaban discutiendo?

Were they arguing?

— Дылда (2019)

¿Estaban hablando de ti?

Were they talking about you?

— El recuerdo de Marnie (2014)

Sounds similar to

estabas e s ˈt a b a s