jouais

Jouais is a French word that functions as a verb. It is the first-person singular imperfect indicative form of the verb "jouer," which means "to play." Therefore, "jouais" translates to "I was playing" or "I used to play" in English. This tense, the imperfect, is used to describe ongoing actions, habitual actions, or states of being in the past.

For example, "Je jouais au football tous les samedis" translates to "I used to play soccer every Saturday," indicating a past habit. Alternatively, "Quand j'étais enfant, je jouais dans le jardin" means "When I was a child, I was playing in the garden," describing an ongoing activity during a past period. The imperfect tense in French conveys a sense of duration or continuity in the past, distinguishing it from the passé composé, which typically describes completed actions.

The verb "jouer" itself has a broad range of meanings beyond simply playing games. It can also mean to act in a play or movie, to play a musical instrument, or to gamble. The imperfect form "jouais" would adapt to these meanings accordingly, such as "Je jouais du piano" (I was playing the piano) or "Je jouais au théâtre" (I was acting in the theater). Understanding the context is key to accurately interpreting the specific meaning of "jouais."