reíamos

Reíamos is the first-person plural form of the Spanish verb reír in the imperfect indicative tense. It translates to “we laughed” or “we were laughing” in English, depending on the context. The form is used to describe past actions or states that were habitual or ongoing.

Usage and nuance: In narrative and conversation, reíamos conveys actions in the past without a definite beginning or end. It often signals repeated or customary laughter, rather than a single completed event. For example: Cuando éramos niños, reíamos mucho. We might also use it to set a scene or tone in past narration, such as describing a moment when a group frequently shared amusement.

Form and orthography: Reíamos is written with an acute accent on the í to indicate the stress pattern of the imperfect form. The approximate pronunciation is [re-Í-a-mos] in Spanish.

Relation to other forms: Reír is irregular in some tenses, but the imperfect first-person plural form is reíamos. Other related forms include reímos (preterite, “we laughed”), reía (I/he/she was laughing or used to laugh), reías, reía, reíais, and reían.

Origin: The verb reír comes from the Latin ridēre, and reíos share its root with other forms that express laughter in past contexts.