This is the 1668th most frequent Spanish word.
podían
"Podían" means "they could" or "they were able to."
The word 'podían' is used to express a general capability or ability in the past.
Cuando eran niños, podían jugar afuera sin preocupaciones.
When they were children, they could play outside without worries.
The word 'podían' here refers to a specific ability in the past, related to their circumstances.
Antes de la tormenta, podían ver claramente las estrellas en el cielo nocturno.
Before the storm, they could clearly see the stars in the night sky.
In this sentence, 'podían' conveys inability or lacking possibility in a past context.