nombrabas

Nombrabas is the second person singular imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb nombrar, meaning you named, or you used to name or mention. Nombrar has several related senses, including to name or identify someone, to mention in speech, or to appoint or nominate to a position.

Etymology and forms. Nombrar derives from Latin nominare, which comes from nomen meaning “name.” The imperfect tense in the tú form is nombrabas, with the regular endings for -ar verbs: yo nombraba, tú nombrabas, él nombraba, nosotros nombrábamos, vosotros nombrabais, ellos nombraban. This form is used to describe past habitual actions, ongoing actions in the past, or scenes set in the past.

Usage notes. In addition to its basic sense of naming or mentioning, nombrar can also mean to appoint or designate someone to a role or office. In such contexts, nombrabas describes a past action of naming or appointing. The imperfect conveys nuance of continuity or repetition in the past, as in narrations or descriptions of routines.

Examples.

- Cuando éramos niños, tú nombrabas a cada persona en la lista. (When we were kids, you used to name everyone on the list.)

- En la asamblea, tú nombrabas a los candidatos para el comité cada semana. (In the meeting, you named the candidates for the committee each week.)

See also. Nombrar (the infinitive) and its other tenses; related verbs for naming or mentioning in Spanish.