como
/komo/
In Spanish, the word for the English phrase "as" (in the role of) is como.
Meaning: In the role of (prep)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people may use en calidad de instead of como to add a touch of formality.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word como does not change for gender or number when used as a preposition meaning "in the role of".
How do you pronounce it?
/komo/
Did you know?
- While como means 'as' in the role of, it is also the same word used for the verb 'I eat' in the first person singular present tense.
- The word como descends from the Latin quōmodo, which originally asked 'in what manner' rather than describing a role.
- The phrase como sea is a common idiom meaning 'anyway' or 'no matter what', moving far beyond the literal meaning of 'as'.
Examples in context
- Haz como te dije.Do as I told you.This sentence shows how to use como when giving instructions.Tatoeba #1286283 by marcelostockle, translation #241105 by CK
- Lo haré como dices.I will do as you say.This sentence shows how to use como when describing an action based on what someone else says.Tatoeba #941232 by hayastan, translation #70990 by CK
- Hazlo como te digo.Do as I tell you.This sentence shows how to use como when following a specific instruction.Tatoeba #1147687 by Shishir, translation #246734 by CK
- Trabajo como médico.I work as a doctor.
- Lo haré en calidad de representante de la empresa.I will do it as a company representative.
- Voy como estudiante, no necesito pagar la entrada.I'm going as a student, I don't need to pay the entry fee.
- Me presento de intérprete, puedo ayudar con la comunicación.I introduce myself as an interpreter, I can help with communication.
- Lo hice en plan de amigo, no esperaba nada a cambio.I did it as a friend, I didn't expect anything in return.
- 2351 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking about their professional roles at a company.
- SofíaTrabajo como gerente de ventas.I work as a sales manager.
- MateoYo empecé como asistente el año pasado.I started as an assistant last year.
- SofíaEs una buena experiencia para tu carrera.It is a good experience for your career.
- MateoSí, aprendí mucho en ese puesto.Yes, I learned a lot in that position.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “as” translations and entries como, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries como, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
