📖2 definitions

📚 creo has 2 definitions

A person looking thoughtfully at a cloudy sky with a thought bubble above their head containing a single raindrop, illustrating the meaning 'I think'.

creo

/KREH-oh/

VerbA1irregular er

I think?Expressing an opinion or thought

Also:I believe?Expressing a belief or having faith in something/someone

Quick Reference

infinitivecreer

gerundcreyendo

past Participlecreído

📝 In Action

Creo que es una buena idea.

I think it's a good idea.

No creo en los fantasmas.

I don't believe in ghosts.

Creo que sí, podemos ir al cine.

I think so, we can go to the movies.

¿Viene Juan? — Creo que no.

Is Juan coming? — I don't think so.

Related Words

Synonyms

pensar (to think)
opinar (to have an opinion)

Antonyms

dudar (to doubt)
saber (to know (as a fact))

Common Collocations

Creo que sí / Creo que no – I think so / I don't think so
Creer en algo/alguien – To believe in something/someone

Idioms & Expressions

Ver para creer – You have to see something to believe it's true.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

yocreo

túcrees

él/ella/ustedcree

nosotroscreemos

vosotroscreéis

ellos/ellas/ustedescreen

preterite

yocreí

túcreíste

él/ella/ustedcreyó

nosotroscreímos

vosotroscreísteis

ellos/ellas/ustedescreyeron

imperfect

yocreía

túcreías

él/ella/ustedcreía

nosotroscreíamos

vosotroscreíais

ellos/ellas/ustedescreían

subjunctive

present

yocrea

túcreas

él/ella/ustedcrea

nosotroscreamos

vosotroscreáis

ellos/ellas/ustedescrean

imperfect

yocreyera

túcreyeras

él/ella/ustedcreyera

nosotroscreyéramos

vosotroscreyerais

ellos/ellas/ustedescreyeran

View All Tenses & Moods →

💡 Grammar Points

Stating Beliefs: 'Creo que' + Normal Verb

When you say 'Creo que...' to state what you think is true, the verb that follows is usually in its normal, regular form. For example, 'Creo que es fácil' (I think it's easy).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Expressing Doubt vs. Belief

Mistake: "A common mix-up is saying 'Creo que sea bueno' when you mean 'I think it's good'."

Correction: Use 'Creo que es bueno'. The special verb form 'sea' is used for doubt, especially after 'No creo que...' (I don't think that...).

⭐ Usage Tips

A Softer Way to Share Your Opinion

Starting a sentence with 'Creo que...' is a great way to sound more polite and less direct than just stating something as a fact. It shows you're sharing your perspective.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: creo

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence means 'I think you are right'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

creer(to believe) - verb

creencia(belief) - noun

creíble(believable) - adjective

crear(to create) - verb

creación(creation) - noun

creativo(creative) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there two completely different meanings for 'creo'?

It's a cool language coincidence! They come from two different Latin verbs: 'creer' (to believe) and 'crear' (to create). They just happen to sound and look the same for the 'I' form in the present tense.

Do I always use the normal verb form after 'creo que'?

Almost always, yes. When you are stating what you think or believe, the following verb is in its normal form (the indicative). The main exception is when you make it negative ('No creo que...'), which signals doubt and usually requires a special verb form (the subjunctive).

How can I tell which 'creo' someone is using?

Context is your best friend! If they are talking about opinions, thoughts, or faith, it's 'I believe/think'. If they are talking about making, building, or producing something (art, a document, a company), it's 'I create'.