How to Talk About Your Childhood in Spanish: A Guide to Habitual Actions


When we reminisce about our childhood, we don't just list facts; we describe a world. We talk about the games we played for hours, the house where we grew up, and the routines that defined our summers. In English, we use "used to" or "would" to signal these repeats. In Spanish, this entire atmosphere is captured by the imperfect tense.

If you want to share your heritage or connect with Spanish-speaking friends through personal stories, mastering habitual actions is your first step. This guide will show you how to build those sentences and provide the vocabulary you need to bring your memories to life.

The "Used To" Logic: Why Habits Matter

In Spanish, the past is split. If you say "Fui al parque" (Preterite), you went to the park once. It’s a finished event. But childhood isn't one event; it’s a collection of habits. To say "I used to go to the park," you say "Iba al parque."

The imperfect tense acts like a recurring loop. It tells the listener, "This wasn't a one-time thing; this was my life."

Common Childhood Sentence Starters

To begin your trip down memory lane, use these classic opening phrases:

  • Cuando era niño/a... (When I was a child...)

  • De pequeño/a... (When I was little...)

  • En aquel entonces... (Back then...)

  • A los diez años... (At ten years old...)

Essential Vocabulary for Childhood Memories

To talk about your habits, you need the right verbs. Here is how some common "childhood verbs" look in the imperfect tense:

EnglishSpanish (Infinitive)"I used to..." (Imperfect)
To playJugarJugaba
To climbTreparTrepaba
To hideEsconderseMe escondía
To shareCompartirCompartía
To dreamSoñarSoñaba
To watchVerVeía

5 Steps to Building Your Childhood Story

1. Describe Your Routine

Start with what you did every day. Use frequency words like siempre (always) or todos los días (every day).

  • Todos los días, desayunaba cereales mientras veía la televisión.

    (Every day, I used to eat cereal while I watched TV.)

2. Talk About Your Social Circle

Who did you hang out with? Use the imperfect to describe your friends and how you interacted.

  • Solíamos jugar al escondite en el jardín.

    (We used to play hide and seek in the garden.)

    Note: "Soler" (to usually do) is a powerful verb in the imperfect (solía) to express habits.

3. Describe Your Surroundings

The imperfect is the "painter" of the past. Describe your old bedroom or your neighborhood.

  • Mi habitación tenía paredes azules y había muchos juguetes en el suelo.

    (My room had blue walls and there were many toys on the floor.)

4. Express Your Likes and Dislikes

Your preferences as a child were "states of mind," which require the imperfect.

  • Me gustaba mucho el helado de chocolate, pero odiaba las verduras.

    (I liked chocolate ice cream a lot, but I hated vegetables.)

5. Mention Your Age

Remember, age in the past is always expressed with the imperfect form of tener.

  • Cuando tenía ocho años, quería ser astronauta.

    (When I was eight, I wanted to be an astronaut.)

Pro Tip: Using "Solía" for Extra Fluency

While you can conjugate any verb in the imperfect to mean "used to," native speakers frequently use the verb soler (to be in the habit of) in its imperfect form: solía.

  • Yo solía visitar a mis abuelos los domingos.

    (I used to visit my grandparents on Sundays.)

This adds a layer of sophistication to your speech and makes it very clear that you are discussing a habitual routine rather than a one-off event.

Putting It All Together: A Sample Paragraph

Here is how a natural description of childhood looks when you use the imperfect correctly:

"Cuando era pequeña, vivía en una casa cerca del mar. Todos los veranos, mis amigos y yo jugábamos en la arena durante horas. No teníamos teléfonos móviles, así que pasábamos todo el tiempo al aire libre. Me sentía muy feliz porque la vida era muy simple."

(Translation): When I was little, I lived in a house near the sea. Every summer, my friends and I used to play in the sand for hours. We didn't have cell phones, so we spent all our time outdoors. I felt very happy because life was very simple.

Conclusion: Your Past, Your Story

Mastering the imperfect tense is about more than grammar; it’s about connection. When you can describe your childhood habits in Spanish, you open the door to deeper conversations and shared experiences. Focus on the "Abba" and "Ía" endings, remember your three irregulars, and start practicing by writing down three things you used to do every summer.



Mastering Spanish Imperfect Tense: Your Complete Guide to Nostalgia and Habits


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