contar
/konˈtaɾ/
To count in Spanish is contar.
Contar is used to describe the act of determining the number of items in a group by naming them one by one. It is also commonly used to mean 'to tell', such as when telling a story or a secret. If you wish to express counting up to a specific number, you should use the phrase contar hasta.
Which one should you use?
While contar is the standard verb for counting numbers, you might use the more formal calcular if you are referring to counting through computations or estimations. If you are counting by listing or naming items one by one in a formal context, the verb enumerar (to enumerate or to list) may be more appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present indicative, the third-person singular form (he/she/it counts) is cuenta. In the preterite past tense, the first-person singular form (I counted) is conté. Note that the word cuenta can also function as a noun meaning 'an account' or 'a bill/check' at a restaurant.
How do you pronounce it?
/konˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- Because contar means both 'to count' and 'to tell', the phrase cuenta conmigo can be interpreted as both 'count me in' and 'rely on me'.
- The Spanish word contar is a direct relative of the English word 'compute', as both descend from the same Latin root meaning 'to settle or consider'.
- While English uses 'tell' for both a story and a secret, Spanish uses contar for a story but often switches to decir for a simple piece of information.
Examples in context
- ¿Sabes contar hasta diez en francés?Do you know how to count to ten in French?This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows how to count to a certain number in another language using contar.Tatoeba #4387702 by saverius, translation #4384263 by CK
- Solo tiene dos años, pero ya sabe contar hasta cien.He is only two years old, but he already knows how to count to one hundred.This sentence shows how to use contar to describe someone's ability to count up to a certain number.Tatoeba #2160357 by Shishir, translation #9438910 by Truthwatch3r
- Ella sólo tiene dos años pero es capaz de contar hasta cien.She is only two years old but is able to count to 100.This sentence provides another way to express that someone is capable of counting up to a specific number using contar.Tatoeba #459181 by Shishir, translation #453886 by saasmath
- Contaré hasta diezI will count to ten
- Enumeraré los beneficios del ejercicioI will list/count the benefits of exercise
- Llevaré la cuenta de cuántos goles anotaI will count how many goals he scores
- Contaré diez ovejasI will count ten sheep
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are organizing a box of supplies.
- ElenaNecesito contar los lápices que quedan.I need to count the pencils that are left.
- JavierYo puedo ayudarte con eso, Elena.I can help you with that, Elena.
- ElenaGracias, Javier. ¿Puedes contar tú primero?Thanks, Javier. Can you count first?
- JavierSí, yo cuento y tú anotas.Yes, I'll count and you note it down.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 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.
