contó
“contó” means “told” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
📝 In Action
Ella nos contó un secreto anoche.
A1She told us a secret last night.
¿Qué le contó usted sobre el viaje?
A2What did you (formal) tell him about the trip?
El presentador contó una anécdota divertida.
B1The host recounted a funny anecdote.
📝 In Action
El tesorero contó el dinero de la caja.
A2The treasurer counted the money in the register.
Ella contó las ovejas para poder dormir.
A1She counted the sheep to be able to sleep.
El profesor contó los errores en el examen.
B1The teacher tallied the mistakes on the exam.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: contó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'contó' to mean 'to count'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *computāre*, meaning 'to count' or 'to calculate.' This root gave rise to both the meaning of counting things and the meaning of recounting events (telling a story by listing the details).
First recorded: Around the 10th-11th century in Old Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'contó' an irregular verb?
'Contar' is a stem-changing verb in the present tense (o changes to ue, as in 'yo cuento'). However, in the past tense ('contó'), it follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, meaning it is regular in this specific tense.
How do I know if 'contó' means 'told' or 'counted'?
Look at the word that follows it. If it’s a story, joke, or secret, it means 'told.' If it’s a number, object, or total, it means 'counted.' Context is key!