cuentos
/KWEHN-tohs/
stories
As a noun, cuentos means stories or short narratives.
cuentos(noun)
stories
?short narratives or fiction
,tales
?legends or folklore
narratives
?general term for recounts
📝 In Action
Mi abuela siempre nos leía cuentos antes de dormir.
A1My grandmother always read us stories before bed.
Hay muchos cuentos populares sobre dragones en esta región.
A2There are many popular tales about dragons in this region.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
Since the singular noun 'cuento' ends in -o, it is masculine. The plural 'cuentos' is used with masculine plural articles like 'los' or adjectives like 'muchos'.
When used as a noun, cuentos can also informally mean lies or falsehoods.
cuentos(noun)
lies
?falsehoods, untruths
,excuses
?unbelievable explanations
nonsense
?ridiculous talk
📝 In Action
No me vengas con cuentos; sé que no estudiaste.
B1Don't come to me with excuses; I know you didn't study.
Todo lo que dice son cuentos para llamar la atención.
B2Everything he says is lies/nonsense just to get attention.
💡 Grammar Points
Idiomatic Use
When used in the sense of 'lies' or 'excuses,' 'cuentos' almost always appears in negative or skeptical contexts, often with verbs like 'venir' (come) or 'dejar' (stop).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Literal Translation Error
Mistake: "Translating '¡Qué cuentos!' as 'What stories!' when the speaker means 'What nonsense!'"
Correction: In these contexts, think 'lies' or 'excuses,' not literary works.
The verb form cuentas (which sounds like 'cuentos' in some contexts) means 'you tell' or 'you count'.
cuentos(verb)
you tell
?present tense, informal 'you'
,you count
?present tense, informal 'you'
📝 In Action
Si cuentas hasta diez, te sentirás mejor.
A1If you count to ten, you will feel better.
Tú cuentas la historia de una forma muy divertida.
A1You tell the story in a very funny way.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem-Changing Verb
The verb 'contar' changes its vowel from 'o' to 'ue' in most present tense forms (like 'cuentas'), but not in the 'nosotros' or 'vosotros' forms ('contamos', 'contáis').
⭐ Usage Tips
Two Main Meanings
Remember that 'contar' means both 'to count' (numbers) and 'to tell' (a story). Context will always make the meaning clear.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuentos
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'cuentos' to mean 'lies or excuses'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cuentos' always plural, or can I use 'cuento'?
Yes, you can use the singular 'cuento' (A story, a single lie). 'Cuentos' is simply the plural form, meaning 'stories' or 'multiple lies/excuses.' The verb form 'cuentas' is used when speaking to one person informally ('Tú').
How do I know if 'cuentos' means 'stories' or 'excuses'?
Context is key. If it is preceded by verbs like 'leer' (read) or 'escribir' (write), it means stories. If it's used with verbs like 'venir con' (come with) or 'dejarse de' (stop), it means excuses or nonsense.