contarte
/kon-TAR-teh/
to tell you
This illustrates the act of narration or sharing information: "to tell you."
contarte(verb)
to tell you
?to narrate a story or share information
to relate to you
?when describing events
📝 In Action
Quiero contarte un secreto que me pasó hoy.
A1I want to tell you a secret that happened to me today.
¿Puedes contarte esa historia de nuevo?
A2Can you tell that story to me (you) again?
Estaba a punto de contarte todo, pero me interrumpió.
B1I was about to tell you everything, but he interrupted me.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Te' Attachment
'Contarte' is the base verb 'contar' plus the object pronoun 'te' (meaning 'to you'). This 'te' specifies who receives the story or information.
Placement Rule
When using an infinitive form (like 'contar'), you can attach the pronoun directly to the end, or place it before the conjugated helping verb: 'Quiero contarte' or 'Te quiero contar'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the stem change
Mistake: "No cuento un chiste. (Incorrect use of 'contar')"
Correction: No cuento un chiste. (Correct: the 'o' changes to 'ue' in most forms of the present tense.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Storytelling
Use 'Te voy a contar...' (I am going to tell you...) as a common, natural way to begin sharing a story or piece of news with a friend.
Here, the word means "to count you," showing the action of including something in a tally.
contarte(verb)
to count you
?to include someone in a number or tally
to rely on you
?figurative usage: to count on someone (contar con + te)
📝 In Action
Somos diez, pero vamos a contarte a ti también.
B1We are ten, but we are going to count you too.
Siempre puedo contarte para este tipo de favores.
B2I can always count on you for these kinds of favors. (Note: often expressed as 'contar contigo')
💡 Grammar Points
Counting vs. Telling
The verb 'contar' means both 'to tell' and 'to count'. You rely on context (and sometimes the preposition 'con' for 'to count on someone') to know the difference.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Count' and 'Tell'
Mistake: "Voy a contarte hasta diez. (Ambiguous: 'I will tell you up to ten' or 'I will count you up to ten'.)"
Correction: To be clear, use 'Voy a contar hasta diez' (I will count up to ten) and 'Voy a decirte la hora' (I will tell you the time).
⭐ Usage Tips
Counting on People
When you mean 'to rely on you,' Spanish almost always uses the preposition 'con': 'Contar contigo' (to count on you).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: contarte
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'contarte' in the sense of 'to count you'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'contarte' have a 'te' at the end?
'Contarte' is the base verb 'contar' combined with the pronoun 'te' (you, informal). Placing 'te' at the end of the infinitive is a rule that applies when the action of the verb is directed toward the person you call 'tú'.
Can I separate 'contar' and 'te'?
Yes! When 'contar' follows another conjugated verb (like 'querer' or 'poder'), you can separate them: 'Quiero contarte' is the same as 'Te quiero contar.' Both are correct and very common.