contar hacia atrás
/kontaɾ aθja atɾas/from spelling rules
To count backwards in Spanish is contar hacia atrás.
To say a sequence of numbers in descending order, starting from the highest and ending with the lowest.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 'contar' (to count) and the adverbial phrase 'hacia atrás' (towards back/backwards).
Which one should you use?
A more formal or mathematical way to express the same concept is contar en orden descendente.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is conjugated as cuenta hacia atrás when giving a direct command to a single person (tú form).
How do you pronounce it?
/kontaɾ aθja atɾas/
Did you know?
- While contar means 'to count', it is also the primary word used in Spanish to say 'to tell' a story.
- In Spanish, contar can also be used to mean 'to rely on' someone, as in cuento contigo.
- The word hacia comes from the Latin phrase faciem ad, which literally means 'facing towards'.
Examples in context
- ¡Cuenta hacia atrás desde diez para el despegue!Count backwards from ten for the takeoff!
- Tienes que contar hacia atrás desde diez.You have to count backwards from ten.
- El niño puede contar hacia atrás muy rápido.The boy can count backwards very fast.
- Vamos a contar hacia atrás para empezar el juego.We are going to count backwards to start the game.
Example conversation
Lucía is helping Mateo practice a game for his class.
- LucíaMateo, ¿puedes contar hacia atrás del cinco al uno?Mateo, can you count backwards from five to one?
- MateoSí, cinco, cuatro, tres, dos, uno.Yes, five, four, three, two, one.
- Lucía¡Muy bien, lo hiciste perfectamente!Very good, you did it perfectly!
- MateoGracias, Lucía, ahora estoy listo.Thanks, Lucía, now I am ready.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries atrás, contar, hacia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
