cuéntame
KWEN-tah-meh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Llegaste tarde, ¿por qué? ¡Cuéntame todo!
A1You arrived late, why? Tell me everything!
No te quedes callado. Cuéntame qué pasó en la reunión de ayer.
A2Don't stay quiet. Tell me what happened at yesterday's meeting.
Si tienes un minuto, siéntate y cuéntame sobre tu nuevo proyecto.
B1If you have a minute, sit down and tell me about your new project.
💡 Grammar Points
Pronoun Attachment Rule
When you give an affirmative command (telling someone to do something), you attach the object pronouns directly to the verb. Here, 'cuenta' (tell) + 'me' (to me) become one word: 'cuéntame'.
The Written Accent
When attaching one or more pronouns creates a word that is three syllables long, you must add an accent mark to keep the stress on the original syllable of the verb ('cuen-ta').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Separating the Pronoun
Mistake: "Cuenta me."
Correction: Cuéntame. (Always combine the command and the pronoun into a single word.)
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Cuentame."
Correction: Cuéntame. (Without the accent, the stress shifts to the 'ta' syllable, which sounds incorrect.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
Since 'cuéntame' uses the 'tú' form, only use it with people you know well. For a more polite or formal request (using 'usted'), you would say 'Cuénteme'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuéntame
Question 1 of 2
Which of these requests uses the correct formal (usted) command for 'tell me'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué lleva acento 'cuéntame'?
The accent mark is necessary because when you attach the pronoun 'me' to the command 'cuenta', the word becomes three syllables long ('cuén-ta-me'). The accent ensures the stress stays on the first syllable, where it belongs, following standard Spanish stress rules.
Is 'cuéntame' always about telling a story?
Not always a long story! It can mean 'tell me' in the sense of asking for any piece of information, like 'Cuéntame qué quieres' (Tell me what you want) or asking for a quick update.