observava

Observava is a conjugated form of the Portuguese verb observar in the imperfect indicative tense. It expresses a past action that was ongoing, habitual, or not completed at a reference time. In English, it corresponds to “was observing” or “used to observe,” depending on context. The form is used with subject pronouns such as eu, ele, or você, reflecting the imperfect aspect of -ar verbs.

Observador is unrelated; observare and observar share a Latin root. The verb observar comes from Latin observare, meaning to watch, notice, or keep watch. Over time, this lineage produced the modern Portuguese verb observar, with various conjugations for different tenses and moods. Observava specifically marks the past imperfect, indicating a continuous or repeated action in the past.

In practice, observava appears in narrative and descriptive contexts. Examples include “Eu observava as estrelas todas as noites” (I was observing the stars every night) and “Ela observava o comportamento das pessoas” (She was observing people’s behavior). The imperfect form is often contrasted with the perfect tense, as in “observaram” (they observed) to indicate completed past actions.

Notes for learners: observing the imperfect tense helps convey background actions, descriptions, or routine past activities. While observava is common in everyday Portuguese, modern usage sometimes favors alternative constructions with estar + gerund or other past tenses depending on regional preference. See also observar for the base verb, and general Portuguese verb conjugation resources.