contar
/kõˈta(ʁ)/
To count in Portuguese is contar.
The verb contar is used to enumerate or determine a number. It is also polysemous, meaning it can also mean 'to tell'. Additionally, the idiomatic expression contar com is used to mean 'to count on'.
Meaning: to enumerate or determine number (verb)
Which one should you use?
While contar is the primary verb for counting, if you are referring to the noun 'count' itself, you should use contagem. If you are referring to a 'countdown', the phrase contagem final is used. Note that conde is a related noun meaning a male ruler of a county.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb contar has several common forms: contou is the third-person singular preterite (past tense), contarei is the first-person singular future indicative and contando is the gerund form used for 'counting'.
How do you pronounce it?
/kõˈta(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- The verb contar is a doublet of the word computar, meaning they both originate from the same Latin root but evolved into different words in Portuguese.
- In Brazilian Portuguese, the gerund contando is used frequently in speech, whereas in European Portuguese, the construction a contar is preferred.
- While contar means to count, the word for a 'tale' or 'story' is conto, deriving from the same root.
Examples in context
- Ele não pode contar.He can't count.This sentence demonstrates the use of contar for the ability to enumerate.Tatoeba #886658 by alexmarcelo, translation #300223 by CK
- Pode contar com ele.You can count on him.This sentence illustrates the idiomatic use of contar meaning 'to count on'.Tatoeba #1311998 by brauliobezerra, translation #1196772 by CK
- Você já sabe contar?Do you already know how to count?This sentence uses contar to ask about the knowledge of how to enumerate.Tatoeba #5096887 by Ricardo14, translation #7909763 by adiante19
- Você pode me contar quantas pessoas compareceram à reunião?Can you tell me how many people attended the meeting?
- O professor pediu para os alunos contarem até dez em voz alta.The teacher asked the students to count aloud to ten.
- O resultado da contagem revelou algumas discrepâncias.The count result revealed some discrepancies.
- Dá uma olhada nessa lista e vê quantos itens faltam.Take a look at this list and see how many items are missing.
- Preciso verificar quantos ingressos ainda estão disponíveis.I need to check how many tickets are still available.
- Vou verificar quantas ligações perdidas você tem no celular.I'll check how many missed calls you have on your phone.
- 94 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Lucas are organizing a box of pencils.
- CamilaVocê pode contar os lápis para mim?Can you count the pencils for me?
- LucasClaro, vou contar agora mesmo.Sure, I will count them right now.
- CamilaQuantos lápis você encontrou?How many pencils did you find?
- LucasTentei contar, mas perdi a conta.I tried to count, but I lost track.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “count” translations and entries contar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
