sabía

Sabía is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb saber, used to express knowledge or ability in the past. Depending on the subject, it can translate as “I knew,” “you knew,” or “he/she/you (formal) knew.” In the imperfect tense, sabÍa is identical in spelling for the first person singular and the third person singular forms, with the subject clarified by context or explicit pronouns.

Etymology: Saber comes from Latin sapere, meaning to know or to be wise. The imperfect form sabÍa reflects the evolution of the verb in Old Spanish into modern Spanish, preserving the sense of a continuing or habitual state of knowledge in the past.

Usage: The imperfect sabÍa describes past knowledge that was ongoing or habitual, rather than a single moment of learning. It contrasts with the preterite supe, which marks a specific moment of discovering something. Sabía can also express “knew how to” when combined with phrases such as “cómo” or verbs implying ability, as in “sabía nadar” (knew how to swim). In subordinate clauses, it is common in indirect speech or reported information.

Examples:

- Yo sabía la respuesta. (I knew the answer.)

- Ella sabía nadar desde niña. (She knew how to swim since childhood.)

- No sabía si vendría. (I didn’t know whether he would come.)

- ¿Sabías que cerraron la tienda? (Did you know that the store had closed?)

See also: Saber, Conjugation of saber, Imperfect tense.