comovscómo
/KOH-moh/
/KOH-moh/
💡 Quick Rule
Cómo with an accent asks a question ('How?'). Como without an accent connects ideas ('like', 'as') or means 'I eat'.
Think of the accent mark (tilde) as a little question mark eyebrow raised in curiosity.
- The rule also applies to indirect questions: 'No sé cómo funciona' (I don't know how it works).
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | como | cómo | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asking vs. Answering | Lo hago como me enseñaste. | ¿Cómo se hace esto? | Cómo asks for the method. Como describes the method being used. |
| Statements vs. Exclamations | Canta como un profesional. | ¡Cómo canta esa mujer! | Como makes a simple comparison. Cómo expresses surprise or admiration. |
| Verb vs. Question Word | Normalmente como pollo. | ¿Cómo? No te escucho. | Como can be the verb 'to eat'. Cómo is always a question or exclamation. |
✅ When to Use "como" / cómo
como
Used for comparisons ('like', 'as'), giving reasons ('since'), and as the verb 'I eat'.
/KOH-moh/
Comparison ('like' or 'as')
Ella es fuerte como una roca.
She is strong as a rock.
Reason ('since' or 'as')
Como no tenía dinero, me quedé en casa.
Since I didn't have money, I stayed home.
Verb 'comer' (I eat)
Yo como a las dos de la tarde.
I eat at two in the afternoon.
cómo
Used to ask questions ('how?') or in exclamations ('what!' or 'how!').
/KOH-moh/
Direct question ('how?')
¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
Indirect question ('how')
No entiendo cómo lo hiciste.
I don't understand how you did it.
Exclamation ('what!' or 'how!')
¡Cómo! ¿Ya te vas?
What! You're leaving already?
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "como":
Hazlo como te dije.
Do it like I told you.
With "cómo":
¿Cómo te lo dijo?
How did he tell you?
The Difference: Como introduces the way something is done based on known information. Cómo asks for that information.
With "como":
Como no estudiaste, reprobaste.
Since you didn't study, you failed.
With "cómo":
¡Cómo! ¿Reprobaste?
What! You failed?
The Difference: Como connects a cause (not studying) to an effect (failing). Cómo expresses pure surprise or disbelief.
🎨 Visual Comparison
Split screen showing como (comparison) vs cómo (question).
Como connects or compares ideas; cómo asks a question.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
¿Como te llamas?
¿Cómo te llamas?
All direct questions asking 'how' must use 'cómo' with an accent mark.
El café está caliente, cómo lava.
El café está caliente, como lava.
When making a comparison ('like lava'), you should use 'como' without the accent.
Me pregunto como está.
Me pregunto cómo está.
Even in indirect questions ('I wonder how...'), 'cómo' needs an accent.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Como vs Cómo
Question 1 of 3
Which is correct? 'Mi hermano es alto ___ mi padre.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the pronunciation of como/cómo change with the accent?
Technically, no. The sound is the same. However, the accent mark tells you where the natural stress of the sentence falls. In a question like '¿Cómo estás?', the emphasis is on 'cómo'. In a statement like 'Es como mi hermano', the stress is more evenly distributed.
Is this accent rule the same for other question words in Spanish?
Yes, absolutely! This is a very consistent rule. Qué (what), quién (who), cuándo (when), dónde (where), and por qué (why) all use an accent mark when they are part of a direct question, an indirect question, or an exclamation.