contigovscon ti
/kohn-TEE-goh/
/kohn TEE/
💡 Quick Rule
Always use 'contigo' for 'with you'. 'Con ti' is incorrect 99% of the time.
Think of 'contigo' as a combo meal: 'con' + 'ti' are fused together and can't be separated.
- The only time you'll see 'con ti' is when it's followed by 'mismo', as in 'con ti mismo' (with yourself).
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | contigo | con ti | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| General use ('with you') | Voy contigo. | *Voy con ti. | 'Contigo' is the mandatory word for 'with you'. 'Con ti' is grammatically incorrect here. |
| Making plans | Cuento contigo para el proyecto. | *Cuento con ti para el proyecto. | To say 'I'm counting on you', you must use 'contigo'. |
| Introspection ('with yourself') | (Not applicable) | Sé amable con ti mismo. | This is the only exception. When followed by 'mismo' (yourself), 'con ti' is correct. |
✅ When to Use "contigo" / con ti
contigo
The special, required word for 'with you' (informal). It's a contraction of 'con' (with) + 'ti' (you).
/kohn-TEE-goh/
Expressing accompaniment
¿Puedo ir contigo a la fiesta?
Can I go with you to the party?
Showing agreement or involvement
Estoy de acuerdo contigo.
I agree with you.
Talking about things someone has with them
¿Trajiste tu paraguas contigo?
Did you bring your umbrella with you?
con ti
This is an incorrect construction in almost all cases. It's a common error made by learners translating directly from English.
/kohn TEE/
Common mistake
*Quiero hablar con ti.
(Incorrect way to say 'I want to talk with you.')
The only correct use (with 'mismo')
Tienes que ser honesto con ti mismo.
You have to be honest with yourself.
Why it's wrong
Spanish has special fused words: conmigo (with me) and contigo (with you).
You must use these special forms instead of 'con mí' or 'con ti'.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "contigo":
Quiero celebrar mi cumpleaños contigo.
I want to celebrate my birthday with you.
With "con ti":
Tienes que ser más paciente con ti mismo.
You have to be more patient with yourself.
The Difference: This shows the entire distinction. Use 'contigo' for 'with you' when talking to another person. Use 'con ti mismo' when telling that person to do something 'with themselves'.
🎨 Visual Comparison
'Contigo' is a special, one-piece word. 'Con' and 'ti' almost never go together separately.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
La problema es con ti.
El problema es contigo.
To say 'The problem is with you', you must use 'contigo'. Also, remember it's 'el problema'!
¿Puedo sentarme con ti?
¿Puedo sentarme contigo?
Remember the combo rule: 'con' + 'ti' automatically becomes 'contigo'. It's a fixed rule in Spanish.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Contigo vs Con ti
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do 'contigo' and 'conmigo' exist?
They come from Latin! In Latin, the word for 'with' ('cum') was attached to the end of the pronouns for 'me' and 'you'. Over time, this evolved into the single words 'conmigo' and 'contigo' in Spanish. It's a cool piece of history baked right into the grammar.
So I should NEVER use 'con ti'?
Almost never. The only time it's correct is when you're saying 'with yourself', as in 'Habla con ti mismo' (Talk with yourself). In any other situation where you mean 'with you', the word you need is 'contigo'.
Does this apply to other prepositions, like 'para ti' or 'de ti'?
No, this special fusion rule only applies to the preposition 'con'. For all other prepositions, you use the standard prepositional pronoun 'ti'. For example, 'Este regalo es para ti' (This gift is for you) or 'Me acuerdo de ti' (I remember you) are both correct.