Yap.Town

ellos estuvieran

were

e s t u ˈb j e ɾ a n → estar
estuv be (doing) + ieran they subjunctive
verb · 3rd-person plural Uncommon #23,212
were Often translated as “be” after verbs of wanting, asking, or requesting.
SP: Quería que estuvieran en casa.
EN: I wanted them to be at home.
Conjugation of estar
Subjunctive
SingularPlural
Second estés —
Third — estuvieran
estuvieraestuviese

Si todos en el mundo estuvieran cómodos, ¿quién haría el rap?

If everyone in the world were comfortable, who would make rap?

— गल्ली बॉय (2019)

Desearía que estuvieran aquí arriba todo el tiempo.

I wish they were up here all the time.

Quería que ustedes dos estuvieran en esto.

I wanted you two to be in this.

Dormían en habitaciones separadas hasta que estuvieran casados.

They slept in separate rooms until they were married.

¿Y si ellos estuvieran de acuerdo?

What if they agreed?

— La Sociedad de los Poetas Muertos (1989)

Eso solo podría pasar si ellos todavía estuvieran en el país.

That could only happen if they were still in the country.

No pensé que estuvieran interesados en rifles Mosin.

I didn't think they'd be interested in Mosin rifles.

— Брат 2 (2000)

Han esperado a que todos estuvieran de permiso para hacerlo.

They waited until everyone was cleared to do it.

— Viaje a las estrellas II: La ira de Khan (1982)

¿Como si algunas cucharas estuvieran en cajones diferentes?

As if some spoons were in different drawers?

— ¿Está funcionando esto? (2025)

De hecho, no había ninguna que sus dueños estuvieran dispuestos a vender.

In fact, there weren’t any that their owners were willing to sell.

Su padre pidió que todos estuvieran en casa mañana.

His father asked everyone to be home tomorrow.

Todo iría mejor si todos esos hombres estuvieran muertos.

Everything would go better if all those men were dead.

— Yojimbo (1961)

Como si estuvieran en un musical o algo así.

As if they were in a musical or something.

— Valor sentimental (2025)

Comprobé que nuestros cuatro botes estuvieran a la espera.

I made sure our four boats were waiting.

Empezó a pensar en cosas que decirle cuando estuvieran lo suficientemente cerca.

He started thinking of things to say to her when they were close enough.

— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Su padre les pidió a todos que estuvieran en casa mañana.

Their father asked them all to be home tomorrow.

auxiliary · 3rd-person plural Rare #42,829
were Used with an -ing verb to form the subjunctive progressive.
SP: Es como si estuvieran esperando el autobús.
EN: It's as if they were waiting for the bus.
Conjugation of estar
Subjunctive
SingularPlural
First — estemos
Second estés —
Third — estuvieran

Parece como si estuvieran intentando no reírse.

It looks like they’re trying not to laugh.

Como si estuvieran hablando.

As if they were talking.

— El laberinto del fauno (2006)

Lo que sea que estuvieran pintando era grande.

Whatever they were painting was big.

Parece que estuvieran esperando que los queme.

It seems like they were waiting for me to burn them.

— Burning (2018)

Ellas defienden sus errores como si estuvieran defendiendo su herencia.

They defend their mistakes as if they were defending their heritage.

Es como si ustedes estuvieran hablando mierda o algo así.

It's like you guys are talking shit or something.

— La Máquina: The Smashing Machine (2025)

Parecía que estuvieran interrogando un sospechoso.

It looked as though they were interrogating a suspect.

— Argentina 1985 (2022)

Sounds similar to

estuvieron e s t u ˈb j e ɾ o n estuvieras e s t u ˈb j e ɾ a s