cuentas
/KWEHN-tas/
accounts
When "cuentas" means accounts, it refers to financial or digital records.
cuentas(noun)
accounts
?bank, email, business
,bills
?money owed; utility costs
checks
?restaurant bill
,calculations
?mental arithmetic
📝 In Action
Necesito pagar mis cuentas de luz y agua.
A1I need to pay my electricity and water bills.
Tengo dos cuentas de banco, una de ahorro y otra corriente.
A2I have two bank accounts, one savings and one checking.
¡Pide las cuentas! Ya es tarde.
A1Ask for the check! It's already late.
💡 Grammar Points
It's always plural
Even if you only have one bill in front of you, you often talk about 'las cuentas' (the bills) in general.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Cuenta' and 'Historia'
Mistake: "Using 'cuento' or 'cuenta' when referring to a story or narrative."
Correction: Use 'historia' or 'relato' for stories; 'cuenta' is mostly financial or mathematical.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for the Bill
The simplest and most common way to ask for the bill in a restaurant is '¿La cuenta, por favor?'
"Cuentas" also means beads, like those used in jewelry.
📝 In Action
El collar está hecho de cuentas de madera.
B1The necklace is made of wooden beads.
Ella ensarta las cuentas para hacer una pulsera.
B2She strings the beads together to make a bracelet.
💡 Grammar Points
Visualizing the Connection
Think of a bead as an item used for counting—like the beads on an abacus or rosary. This helps connect this meaning back to the verb 'contar' (to count).
As a verb, "cuentas" means you count (tú form).
cuentas(verb)
you count
?Present tense, familiar 'tú' form
,you tell
?you tell a story/secret
you rely (on)
?when used with 'con', e.g., 'Cuentas conmigo'
📝 In Action
Tú cuentas los votos y yo anoto los resultados.
A2You count the votes and I write down the results.
¿Le cuentas a alguien este secreto?
B1Are you telling anyone this secret?
¡Cuentas conmigo para lo que necesites!
A2You can count/rely on me for whatever you need!
💡 Grammar Points
Stem Change Alert (O > UE)
This verb is irregular! The 'o' in the stem changes to 'ue' in most present tense forms, including 'cuentas,' except for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'ue' change
Mistake: "Tú contas."
Correction: Tú cuentas. Remember to change the vowel sound when talking about what you count or tell.
⭐ Usage Tips
Relying on others
To say 'you rely on me,' always use 'contar con': 'Cuentas conmigo.' Never use 'contar a.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuentas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cuentas' as a noun meaning 'financial responsibilities'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'cuentas' refers to bills or counting?
If 'cuentas' has a feminine article before it ('las cuentas'), it is the plural noun (bills/accounts/beads). If it stands alone or follows a pronoun like 'Tú,' it is the verb form meaning 'you count' or 'you tell.'
Is it rude to ask for 'la cuenta' in a restaurant?
Not at all. Saying 'La cuenta, por favor' is the standard, polite way to ask for the bill in almost all Spanish-speaking countries.