cómo
/KOH-moh/
“Cómo” is often used to ask “how?” something is done, like figuring out the steps to untie a knot.
cómo (Adverb)
📝 In Action
¿Cómo estás?
A1How are you?
¿Cómo se dice 'apple' en español?
A1How do you say 'apple' in Spanish?
No sé cómo funciona.
A2I don't know how it works.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic Accent Mark
The accent on 'cómo' tells you it's a question word. The version without an accent, 'como', means 'like' or 'as'. That little line changes everything!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent in Questions
Mistake: "Me preguntó como estaba."
Correction: Me preguntó cómo estaba. (He asked me how I was.) When reporting a question, 'cómo' still needs its accent.
⭐ Usage Tips
Direct and Indirect Questions
Use 'cómo' in direct questions (¿Cómo lo hiciste?) and also in sentences that talk about a question (Dime cómo lo hiciste).
When you don't understand or can't believe what you heard, you can use “¿Cómo?” to mean “What?” or “Pardon me?”.
cómo (Adverb)
📝 In Action
- Pásame la cosa esa. - ¿Cómo?
A2- Pass me that thingamajig. - What? / Pardon?
¿Cómo que no vienes a la fiesta?
B1What do you mean you're not coming to the party?
⭐ Usage Tips
A More Polite 'What?'
In many situations, saying '¿Cómo?' to ask someone to repeat themselves is considered more polite than just saying '¿Qué?'. It's a great habit to develop.
“¡Cómo...!” adds emphasis to an action, like exclaiming about how heavily it's raining.
cómo (Adverb)
📝 In Action
¡Cómo llueve!
B1It's raining so much! (Literally: How it's raining!)
¡Cómo has crecido!
B1Look how you've grown!
¡No tienes idea de cómo te he extrañado!
B2You have no idea how much I've missed you!
💡 Grammar Points
Exclamation Marks are Key
Just like with questions, when 'cómo' is used for emphasis, it needs an accent mark and is surrounded by exclamation marks (¡...!).
Sometimes 'cómo' can be a noun, 'el cómo,' which means 'the how' or the specific way something is done.
cómo (Noun)
📝 In Action
Lo importante no es el qué, sino el cómo.
C1The important thing isn't the what, but the how.
El director explicó el cómo del nuevo proyecto.
C1The director explained the how (the methodology) of the new project.
⭐ Usage Tips
Spotting the Noun
You'll know 'cómo' is being used as a noun when you see an article like 'el' right before it. It treats the concept of 'how' as a thing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cómo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cómo' to express surprise or ask 'what do you mean'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single most important thing to remember about 'cómo' vs 'como'?
The accent mark! If you are asking a question (directly or indirectly) or making an exclamation about 'how' something is, use 'cómo' with an accent. If you are making a comparison ('as fast as') or giving a reason ('since...'), use 'como' without an accent.
Is it rude to say '¿Qué?' instead of '¿Cómo?' when I don't hear someone?
It's not necessarily rude, but '¿Cómo?' is often considered a bit softer and more polite, especially with people you don't know well. In very informal situations with friends, '¿Qué?' is perfectly fine. Using '¿Cómo?' is a safe and polite default.