What does iba in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word iba in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use iba in Spanish.

The word iba in Spanish means I was going, go, go, work, wear, go [+ gerund], be off, get to [+ gerund], go with, fit with, square with, go [+ gerund], be going to [+ infinitive], go to get, how could I forget?, as I was saying, that is where I was going, it was about time. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word iba

I was going

(tiempo verbal) (imperfect singular form of "go")

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Cuando iba por la calle me encontré con tu tío.
When I was going down the street I ran into your uncle.

go

verbo intransitivo (dirigirse)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Este tren va a Madrid. Para llegar al museo, tienes que tomar el autobús que va hacia el sur.
This train goes to Madrid. To get to the museum, you have to take the bus that goes south.

go

verbo intransitivo (asistir)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Mis padres no me dejan ir a la fiesta. La clase de hoy estuvo muy interesante, pero mi compañera no pudo ir.
My parents won't let me go to the party. Today's class was very interesting, but my classmate couldn't go.

work

verbo intransitivo (informal (funcionar)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
El ordenador no va; tendré que llamar al técnico.
The computer isn't working. I'm going to have to call a technician.

wear

(llevar puesto)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Las azafatas tienen que ir de uniforme.
Stewardesses must wear a uniform.

go [+ gerund]

(futuro próximo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Esta tarde vamos a nadar en la piscina. Voy a comprarme unos zapatos de cuero.
I'm going to buy some leather shoes.

be off

verbo pronominal (marcharse) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ya me voy porque tengo que preparar la cena.
I'm off because I have to get dinner ready.

get to [+ gerund]

verbo intransitivo (acción progresiva)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Yo voy pelando las verduras mientras tú cortas la carne. Hay que ir pensando en el lanzamiento del nuevo producto.
We must get on with thinking about the launch of the new product.

go with, fit with, square with

(concordar, armonizar)

Menospreciar a los demás no va con mis ideas.
Undermining others doesn't fit (or: go) with my ideas.

go [+ gerund]

(ponerse a conjeturar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No vayas a creer que no me gustó la carne; es que estoy muy llena.
Don't go thinking that I didn't like the meat. I'm just very full.

be going to [+ infinitive]

(intencionalidad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Iba a salir, pero comenzó a llover y tuve que devolverme.
I was going to go out, but it started raining and I had to head back.

go to get

(ir a buscar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Voy por un pan al súper; ya vuelvo.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I'm just nipping out the shops. Do you need anything?

how could I forget?

expresión (coloquial (recordar, tener presente)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Hoy es nuestro aniversario de bodas, ¡cómo no iba a acordarme!

as I was saying

expresión (para retomar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Como iba diciendo, es hora de terminar este encuentro.

that is where I was going

locución conjuntiva (ese es el asunto)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Eso es a lo que iba, no te puedes quedar a vivir aquí.
That's where I was going, you can't stay and live here.

it was about time

expresión (es urgente que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of iba in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.