cuánta

/KWAN-tah/

how much

A young child holding an empty, clear pitcher, looking expectantly at a large blue water dispenser, expressing curiosity about the amount of water available.

We use "cuánta" as an adjective when asking "how much" of a feminine singular noun, like "cuánta agua" (how much water).

cuánta(Adjective)

fA1

how much

Asking about the amount or quantity of a feminine singular noun.

📝 In Action

¿Cuánta leche necesitamos para el pastel?

How much milk do we need for the cake?

¡Cuánta paciencia tiene esa profesora!

How much patience that teacher has!

Dime cuánta energía te queda después de correr.

Tell me how much energy you have left after running.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

Cuánta gente – How many people (Note: 'gente' is singular feminine)
Cuánta prisa – How much hurry/rush

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement is Key

Use 'cuánta' only when referring to a single feminine noun (like 'agua' or 'mesa'). If the noun is masculine, use 'cuánto'.

The Question Mark Accent

The accent mark ('´') is essential. It tells you the word is being used to ask a question or express surprise/emotion (exclamation).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong form with uncountable nouns

Mistake: "¿Cuántas agua quieres?"

Correction: ¿Cuánta agua quieres? ('Agua' is singular even though you can't count it.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Exclamatory Use

You can use '¡Cuánta...!' to express a strong feeling about the amount of something, like '¡Cuánta belleza!' (How much beauty!).

A baker holds a measuring cup over a large pile of white flour, while another person stands nearby, using a questioning gesture toward the flour, inquiring about the unknown quantity needed.

"Cuánta" functions as a pronoun when it stands alone to ask "how much" of a feminine quantity that is already understood in the conversation.

cuánta(Pronoun)

fA2

how much

Standing in for a feminine singular noun/quantity already understood.

📝 In Action

Tengo harina, pero no sé cuánta.

I have flour, but I don't know how much (I have).

Ella quiere más libertad. Pregúntale cuánta.

She wants more freedom. Ask her how much.

💡 Grammar Points

Replacing the Noun

When 'cuánta' is used as a pronoun, it replaces the feminine singular noun entirely, so you don't need to repeat the noun.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cuánta

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the feminine singular form 'cuánta'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cuánto(how much (masculine singular)) - adjective/pronoun

cuántos(how many (masculine plural)) - adjective/pronoun

cuántas(how many (feminine plural)) - adjective/pronoun

cuanto(as much as (no accent)) - adverb/pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'cuánta' and 'cuanta'?

'Cuánta' (with the accent mark) is used to ask a question (How much?) or express strong feeling (What amount!). 'Cuanta' (without the accent) is used in statements to mean 'as much as' or 'all the amount that.' For example: 'Cuanta libertad tienes, úsala' (Use all the freedom that you have).

Does 'cuánta' mean 'how many' or 'how much'?

It means 'how much' when referring to things you can't count individually (like water or patience). It can sometimes translate to 'how many' when used with a singular collective noun, like 'gente' (people), which is grammatically singular: '¿Cuánta gente hay?' (How many people are there?).