contador
“contador” means “accountant” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
accountant
Also: bookkeeper
📝 In Action
Mi contador dice que debemos pagar los impuestos mañana.
A2My accountant says we must pay the taxes tomorrow.
Ella quiere ser contadora cuando termine la universidad.
B1She wants to be an accountant when she finishes university.
meter
Also: counter
📝 In Action
El contador del agua está afuera de la casa.
B1The water meter is outside the house.
El video tiene un contador de visitas en la esquina.
A2The video has a view counter in the corner.
storyteller
📝 In Action
Era un gran contador de historias y siempre nos hacía reír.
B2He was a great storyteller and always made us laugh.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: contador
Question 1 of 2
If you want to know how much gas you used this month, what should you look at?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'computator,' which described someone who calculates or counts. It comes from the verb 'contar' (to count), which explains why the word is used for both people who count money and devices that measure numbers.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'contador' the same as 'computadora'?
No. While they share the same Latin root, a 'contador' is a person (accountant) or a small meter (like a water meter), while a 'computadora' is a personal computer.
Do I use 'contador' or 'contable' for my accountant?
Both are correct! 'Contador' is more common in Latin America, while 'contable' is very common in Spain. Most people will understand both.