Inklingo
← Dictionary
📖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.

A1

I think it's a good idea.

No creo en los fantasmas.

A2

I don't believe in ghosts.

Creo que sí, podemos ir al cine.

A1

I think so, we can go to the movies.

¿Viene Juan? — Creo que no.

A2

Is Juan coming? — I don't think so.

Word Connections

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.

💡 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.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedcree
yocreo
túcrees
ellos/ellas/ustedescreen
nosotroscreemos
vosotroscreéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcreía
yocreía
túcreías
ellos/ellas/ustedescreían
nosotroscreíamos
vosotroscreíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedcreyó
yocreí
túcreíste
ellos/ellas/ustedescreyeron
nosotroscreímos
vosotroscreísteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedcrea
yocrea
túcreas
ellos/ellas/ustedescrean
nosotroscreamos
vosotroscreáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcreyera
yocreyera
túcreyeras
ellos/ellas/ustedescreyeran
nosotroscreyéramos
vosotroscreyerais
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ 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'.