como
/komo/
In Spanish, the phrase 'as it' is translated using como.
como is a conjunction used to describe the way something is or to indicate a cause. It can mean both 'as' (in terms of function or manner) and 'like' (in terms of comparison).
Which one should you use?
To express 'just as' or 'in the same way as', you might use así como. For a more formal expression of 'as' or 'just like', use tal como. If you specifically want to say 'in the same way as', the formal phrase de la misma manera que is appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
When como is used to mean 'as it' or 'as it does' in a comparative sense, it does not require a separate word for 'it' because the subject is implied by the verb that follows.
How do you pronounce it?
/komo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
In Spanish, como está or como es is sufficient.
Did you know?
- While como can mean 'as it' in a causal sense, it is also a linguistic 'chameleon' because it can function as a conjunction, an adverb, or even a verb. For example, como can also mean 'I eat' in the first person singular.
- The word como comes from the Latin cōmō̆, which was a non-literary, colloquial version of the formal word quōmodo.
- In Spanish, the word como can be used to soften a statement or express uncertainty, similar to using 'like' or 'sort of' as a filler word in English.
Examples in context
- Nada es como parece.Nothing is as it seems.This sentence shows how to use como to describe how something appears.Tatoeba #1646160 by wallebot, translation #895454 by spockofvulcan
- Deja el cuarto como está.Leave the room as it is.This sentence uses como to describe leaving something in its current state.Tatoeba #816266 by jayefes65, translation #319587 by CK
- No duele tanto como antes.It doesn't hurt as much as it did before.This sentence uses como for a comparison of intensity.Tatoeba #6694954 by arh, translation #6694917 by CK
- Tal como mencioné anteriormente, el informe estará listo para la reunión de mañana.As I mentioned before, the report will be ready for tomorrow's meeting.
- Debemos proceder de la misma manera que nuestros colegas internacionales.We should proceed as our international colleagues do.
- Hazlo como quieras, no importa.Do it as you want, it doesn't matter.
- 64 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing a messy living room.
- MaríaTodo está como lo dejaste.Everything is as you left it.
- MateoNo lo hice a propósito.I didn't do it on purpose.
- MaríaNo importa, lo arreglaré.It doesn't matter, I will fix it.
- MateoGracias, María.Thanks, María.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry como, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
