Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Growing Day By Day in Spanish
Reflect on your child's early milestones and daily routines. This guide focuses on using the word 'cuando' to describe both specific turning points and habits from the past.
What you'll learn
- Distinguish between single past events and repeated habits using 'cuando'.
- Apply the Preterite tense for unique milestones.
- Apply the Imperfect tense for recurring routines or 'whenever' contexts.
- Expand vocabulary related to early childhood development.
Spanish phrases for growing day by day
Cuando llegaste a casa por primera vez, dormías en nuestra habitación.
When you first came home, you slept in our room.
Uses 'cuando' with the preterite 'llegaste' for a one-time arrival.
Cuando te despertabas por la noche en aquel entonces, te abrazaba fuerte.
Whenever you woke at night back then, I held you close.
'Cuando' functions as 'whenever' here, paired with the imperfect 'despertabas'.
Cuando te salió el primer diente, lo masticabas todo.
When your first tooth appeared, you chewed on everything.
'Salió' is a specific moment; 'masticabas' describes the ongoing behavior following it.
Cuando te dolían las encías el mes pasado, te dábamos un mordedor frío.
Whenever your gums hurt last month, we gave you a cool teething ring.
Refers to a repeated state of pain and a recurring solution.
Cuando probaste la papilla por primera vez, pusiste una cara graciosa.
When you tried porridge for the first time, you made a funny face.
Both verbs are in the preterite because they describe a specific completed action.
Cuando te preparaba el biberón en aquel entonces, me mirabas las manos.
Whenever I prepared your bottle back then, you watched my hands.
Describes a habitual routine using the imperfect tense.
Cuando gateaste por la habitación por primera vez, me sentí muy orgullosa.
When you crawled across the room for the first time, I was so proud.
Focuses on a specific breakthrough moment (milestone).
Cuando salíamos en el cochecito el invierno pasado, te quedabas dormido.
Whenever we went out in the pram last winter, you fell asleep.
Describes a recurring activity during a specific season.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Papilla
Porridge / Baby food mush
Commonly used for the first semi-solid foods a baby eats.
Mordedor
Teething ring
Derived from the verb 'morder' (to bite).
Cochecito
Pram / Stroller
Literally 'little car', the standard term for a baby carriage.
Gatear
To crawl
Specific to the way babies move on all fours.
Cuando: Single Events vs. Repeated Habits
In Spanish, the word 'cuando' serves for both specific moments (English 'when') and repeated occasions (English 'whenever'). The distinction depends on the verb tense used.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single Event (Preterite) | Cuando + Preterite | Cuando nació (When he/she was born). |
| Repeated Habit (Imperfect) | Cuando + Imperfect | Cuando lloraba (Whenever he/she cried). |
More examples
Cuando cumpliste un año, hicimos una gran fiesta.
When you turned one, we had a big party.
Single event (Preterite).
Cuando tenías hambre, siempre buscabas tu peluche.
Whenever you were hungry, you always looked for your stuffed animal.
Repeated past state (Imperfect).