cómo eran

what were they like

cómo eran(koh-moh eh-rahn)

phrase

1. (in questions; third person plural)

a. what were they like

Cuando yo era joven, las fiestas no eran así. - ¿Cómo eran?

When I was young, parties weren't like this. - What were they like?

b. what did they look like (related to physical appearance)

¿Cómo eran en aquella época? ¿Eran guapos?

What did they look like at that time? Were they handsome?

c. what were ... like

¿Cómo eran tus padres? - Muy liberales.

What were your parents like? - Very open-minded.

d. what did ... look like (related to physical appearance)

¿Cómo eran los vikingos? - Eran altos y rubios.

What did Vikings look like? - They were tall and blond.

2. (in questions; second person plural)

a. what were you like

¿Cómo eran cuando tenían 18 años? - Pues éramos como toda la gente a esa edad.

What were you like at 18? - Well, we were like anyone else at that age.

b. what did you look like (related to physical appearance)

¿Cómo eran entonces? ¿Tienen alguna foto?

What did you look like back then? Do you have any photos?

3. (in statements; third person plural)

a. what they were like

¿Por qué quieres leer un libro sobre los romanos? - Bueno, siempre me he preguntado cómo eran.

Why do you want to read a book about the Romans? - Well, I've always wondered what they were like.

b. what they looked like (related to physical appearance)

El testigo no sabe cómo eran porque estaba oscuro y no les vio bien.

The witness doesn't know what they looked like because it was dark and he couldn't see them well.

c. what ... were like

No sé cómo eran los abuelos de Jaime porque nunca los conocí.

I don't know what Jaime's grandparents were like because I never met them.

d. what ... looked like (related to physical appearance)

No tenemos ni idea de cómo eran los cuadros. No los vimos.

We have no idea what the paintings looked like. We didn't see them.

4. (in statements; second person plural)

a. what you were like

No sé cómo eran entonces, pero siempre los imagino como unos niños muy traviesos y desobedientes.

I don't know what you were like back then, but I always imagine you as very naughty and disobedient kids.

b. what you looked like (related to physical appearance)

Me pregunto cómo eran hace 20 años. - Para empezar, éramos más delgados.

I wonder what you looked like 20 years ago. - We were thinner to start with.