en ese momento
/en ese momento/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'at that time' is translated into Spanish as en ese momento.
Meaning: back then (prep_phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of en (in), ese (that) and momento (moment).
Which one should you use?
While en ese momento refers to a specific moment previously mentioned, en aquel momento is often used to refer to a more distant or remote point in the past.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking regions, en aquel entonces, en aquel tiempo and en aquellos días are valid expressions for 'at that time'.
How do you pronounce it?
/en ese momento/
Did you know?
- The word momento comes from the Latin mōmentum, which referred to the smallest movement of a balance scale that tips the scales.
- In Spanish, the choice between ese and aquel in phrases like en ese momento depends on the psychological distance the speaker feels toward the event, not just the calendar date.
- While momento means 'moment' in both languages, Spanish speakers often use un momento to mean 'a short while' in a way that can be much longer than a literal second.
Examples in context
- En ese momento, él estaba aquí.He was here at that time.This sentence shows the use of en ese momento to indicate when someone was present.Tatoeba #1988541 by marilia, translation #290934 by CK
- Justo en ese momento sonó el móvil.Right at that time the cellphone rang.This sentence uses en ese momento to describe when an event occurred.Tatoeba #2697596 by Shishir, translation #1522351 by erikspen
- ¿Qué estabas haciendo en ese momento?What were you doing at that time?This sentence uses en ese momento to ask about an action occurring at a specific time.Tatoeba #989520 by hayastan, translation #69992 by CK
- El presidente hablará sobre la situación económica en aquel momento.The president will speak about the economic situation at that time.
- Yo trabajaba en ese entonces como mesero.I was working as a waiter at that time.
- Mis padres vivían en esa época.My parents were living at that time.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking about an old photo.
- DanielEn ese momento, yo era muy joven.At that time, I was very young.
- Sofía¿Y de verdad vivías allí?And did you really live there?
- DanielSí, en ese momento vivía en Madrid.Yes, at that time I lived in Madrid.
- SofíaQué bien, te veías muy feliz.That's nice, you looked very happy.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, ese, momento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
