cuántos
/KWAN-tohs/
how many
As a determiner, 'cuántos' asks 'how many' or exclaims 'so many' when referring to a large, countable, masculine, plural quantity, like the blocks in this tower.
cuántos(Adjective / Determiner)
how many
?used in questions before a masculine, plural noun
so many
?used in exclamations to show surprise at a large quantity
📝 In Action
¿Cuántos años tienes?
A1How old are you? (Literally: How many years do you have?)
¿Cuántos libros necesitas para la clase?
A1How many books do you need for the class?
¡Cuántos problemas por una cosa tan pequeña!
B1So many problems for such a small thing!
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
Think of 'cuántos' as a chameleon. It changes to match the thing you're asking about. Use 'cuántos' only for masculine things you can count, like 'libros' (books) or 'amigos' (friends).
The Four Forms
This word has four forms: 'cuánto' (masculine singular), 'cuánta' (feminine singular), 'cuántos' (masculine plural), and 'cuántas' (feminine plural). Always pick the one that matches the noun.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender & Number Mismatch
Mistake: "Using 'cuántos' for feminine or singular things. For example: *¿Cuántos sillas hay?*"
Correction: The word for 'chairs' ('sillas') is feminine and plural, so you need to use the matching form: '¿Cuántas sillas hay?'
⭐ Usage Tips
Questions vs. Exclamations
The word 'cuántos' is the same for asking a question and making an exclamation. The only difference is the punctuation: question marks (¿?) for asking, and exclamation points (¡!) for showing surprise.
As a pronoun, 'cuántos' stands alone to ask 'how many' when the masculine, plural noun (like 'robots') is already understood from the context.
📝 In Action
Veo que tienes muchos lápices. ¿Cuántos me prestas?
A2I see you have a lot of pencils. How many will you lend me?
Necesitamos voluntarios para el evento. ¿Cuántos se apuntan?
B1We need volunteers for the event. How many are signing up?
—Llegaron los invitados. —¿Cuántos son?
A2—The guests arrived. —How many are there?
💡 Grammar Points
Standing in for a Noun
You use 'cuántos' this way when everyone already knows what you're talking about. It stands in for the masculine, plural noun so you don't have to repeat it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular Form
Mistake: "When asking about multiple people or things, sometimes learners use the singular form: *¿Cuánto vienen a la fiesta?*"
Correction: Because you're asking about multiple people (a plural concept), you need the plural form: '¿Cuántos vienen a la fiesta?'
⭐ Usage Tips
Answering the Question
When someone asks you a question with 'cuántos', you can often answer with just a number. '¿Cuántos quieres?' (How many do you want?) 'Quiero tres.' (I want three.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuántos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly asks about the number of chairs ('sillas')?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'cuánto' and 'cuántos'?
Think of it like 'how much' vs. 'how many'. You use 'cuánto' for things you can't count easily, like water or time ('¿Cuánto tiempo?'). You use 'cuántos' for things you can count one-by-one, like books or friends ('¿Cuántos amigos?').
Why does 'cuántos' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is a signal that you're asking a question or making an exclamation (like 'How many?!'). The version without an accent, 'cuantos', is used for making statements, like 'Tengo cuantos necesito' (I have as many as I need).