cuanto
/KWAN-toh/
as much... as
As an adjective, cuanto (and its forms cuantos/cuanta/cuantas) is used to mean 'as much as' or 'as many as', illustrating the maximum quantity available.
cuanto(Adjective)
as much... as
?referring to a singular, uncountable thing
,as many... as
?referring to multiple, countable things
all the... that
?emphasizing the total amount
📝 In Action
Puedes comer cuanta pizza quieras.
B1You can eat as much pizza as you want.
Invita a cuantos amigos puedas.
B1Invite as many friends as you can.
Reunió cuanta información encontró sobre el tema.
B2He gathered all the information that he found on the topic.
💡 Grammar Points
A Word with Four Outfits
When used to describe a thing (a noun), 'cuanto' must change to match it. Think of it like a little chameleon: 'cuanto' for masculine singular things (cuanto tiempo), 'cuanta' for feminine (cuanta gente), 'cuantos' for masculine plural (cuantos libros), and 'cuantas' for feminine plural (cuantas veces).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Match
Mistake: "Dame cuanto galletas tienes."
Correction: Dame cuantas galletas tienes. You need 'cuantas' because 'galletas' (cookies) is a feminine and plural word.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding a Bit More Formal
In everyday chat, you'll often hear people say 'todo el que' or 'todos los que' instead. Using 'cuanto' can make you sound a little more formal or literary, which can be a nice touch.
When used as a pronoun, cuanto means 'all that' or 'everything that', often referring to an entire effort or collection of actions.
cuanto(Pronoun)
all that
?referring to an idea or a collection of things
everything that
,whatever
📝 In Action
Hizo cuanto pudo para ayudar.
B2He did all that he could to help.
Gracias por cuanto has hecho por mí.
B2Thank you for everything that you have done for me.
💡 Grammar Points
The One Form That Stays Put
When 'cuanto' stands on its own and means 'everything that', it doesn't change. It almost always stays in the simple 'cuanto' form because it's talking about a general idea, not a specific masculine or feminine thing.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Shortcut for 'Todo lo que'
You can think of this use of 'cuanto' as a more compact and elegant way of saying 'todo lo que' (all that). Both 'Dime cuanto sabes' and 'Dime todo lo que sabes' mean 'Tell me everything you know'.
As an adverb, cuanto means 'as much as', modifying a verb to indicate the maximum possible extent of an action.
📝 In Action
Corre cuanto puedas.
B1Run as much as you can.
Te ayudaré en cuanto me sea posible.
B2I will help you as much as is possible for me.
En cuanto a tu pregunta, no tengo una respuesta.
B1Regarding your question, I don't have an answer.
💡 Grammar Points
No Changes Needed
When 'cuanto' is describing an action (a verb), it's easy: it never changes. It's always just 'cuanto'. You don't need to worry about matching it with anything.
⭐ Usage Tips
Unlock Common Phrases
Learn the phrases 'cuanto antes' (as soon as possible) and 'en cuanto a' (regarding/as for). They are incredibly useful and will make you sound much more natural.
Used in the common phrase en cuanto, this word acts as a conjunction meaning 'as soon as', indicating an immediate temporal sequence.
cuanto(Conjunction)
as soon as
?used in the phrase 'en cuanto'
once
?when one thing happens, then another
📝 In Action
Llámame en cuanto llegues a casa.
B1Call me as soon as you get home.
En cuanto lo vi, supe que algo andaba mal.
B1As soon as I saw him, I knew something was wrong.
💡 Grammar Points
Future Actions Need a Special Verb Form
When you use 'en cuanto' to talk about something that will happen in the future, the verb that follows often changes into a special form called the subjunctive. For example, 'en cuanto llegue' (as soon as he arrives) instead of 'en cuanto llega'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'en cuanto' and 'en cuanto a'
Mistake: "En cuanto el clima, prefiero el sol."
Correction: 'En cuanto a' means 'regarding'. 'En cuanto' means 'as soon as'. The correct sentence is: 'En cuanto al clima, prefiero el sol.' (Regarding the weather, I prefer the sun).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuanto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'cuanto' to mean 'as many books as you want'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'cuanto' and 'cuánto' (with a tilde)?
'Cuánto' with a tilde (accent mark) is a question word, used to ask 'How much?' or 'How many?' (e.g., '¿Cuánto cuesta?'). 'Cuanto' without a tilde is a connector word, meaning things like 'as much as' or 'all that'.
Do I always have to change the ending of 'cuanto'?
No, only when it's acting like an adjective and describing a specific thing right next to it (e.g., 'cuantos amigos', 'cuanta comida'). When it means 'as much as' or 'everything that', it usually stays as just 'cuanto'.