ya estaba

was already

→ ya

phrase Uncommon #18,681

was already The meaning can vary slightly with context; before an infinitive, estar por can mean “to be about to” do something.

SP: Cuando llegué, ella ya estaba en casa.

EN: When I arrived, she was already at home.

El cemento ya estaba duro cuando intentamos corregir la forma del escalón.

The cement was already hard when we tried to correct the shape of the step.

Pero la suerte ya estaba echada.

But the die was cast.

Ya estaba en la tumba cuando regresé.

He was already in the grave when I returned.

— Despedidas (2008)

Si ya estaba sana.

But she was already healthy.

La comida ya estaba en la mesa.

The food was already on the table.

Ya estaba por salir.

I was just about to leave.

— Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (1970)

No se apure, Torito, ya estaba flojo.

Don't worry, Torito, it was already loose.

— Nosotros los pobres (1948)

Ya estaba vestida y deseando ir.

I was already dressed and eager to go.

— Devdas (2002)

Ya estaba despierto.

I was already awake.

— Aquarius (2016)

La oposición ya estaba acabada.

The opposition was already over.

— Brigadas rojas (2008)

Sr. Pires, su cuerpo ya estaba colgando cuando nos despertamos.

Mr. Pires, your body was already hanging when we woke up.

— Carandiru (2003)

Yo desde que me paré al molino, ya estaba el helicóptero allí.

By the time I stopped at the mill, the helicopter was already there.

— Noche de fuego (2021)

Disculpa, pero ya estaba por romperme un pie.

Sorry, but I was already about to break my foot.

— Pinocho (2019)

Ya estaba harta del nutan.

I was already fed up with Nutan.

En ese tiempo mi casa ya estaba construida.

At that time my house was already built.

Tu madre ya estaba harta de nosotros.

Your mother was already fed up with us.

— Dolor y gloria (2019)

El avión despegó y a lo pronto ya estaba fuera de vista.

The plane took off and was soon out of sight.

A usted no necesitaba mentirle porque ya estaba dentro.

You didn't need to lie to him because you were already inside.

— Los renglones torcidos de Dios (2022)

Ya estaba acordado así.

That had already been agreed upon.

— Que Horas Ela Volta? (2015)

Ese se lo dio cuando ya estaba inconsciente.

He gave it to him when he was already unconscious.

— El guardián invisible (2017)

Keith, que ya estaba en el muelle, ayudó a subir primero a Kat y luego a mí.

Keith, who was already on the dock, helped Kat aboard first, then me.

Me estaba muriendo, más de lo muerto que ya estaba.

I was dying—deader than I already was.

— Amores perros (2000)