Inklingo

How to Say "meter" in Spanish

English → Spanish

metro

MEH-troh/ˈme.tɾo/

nounA1general
Use 'metro' when referring to the metric unit of length, equivalent to about 3.28 feet.
A single, wooden measuring stick, exactly one meter long, resting on a flat surface.

Examples

Necesito un metro de cuerda roja.

I need one meter of red rope.

Mi habitación mide tres metros de ancho.

My room is three meters wide.

La piscina tiene 25 metros de largo.

The pool is 25 meters long.

Always Masculine

Since 'metro' is a masculine noun, always use 'el' or 'un' before it, and make sure any adjectives describing it are also masculine (e.g., 'el metro exacto').

Mixing Units

Mistake: “La mesa mide tres pies.”

Correction: La mesa mide tres metros. (The table is three meters.)

contador

/kon-tah-DOR//kontaˈðoɾ/

nounB1general
Use 'contador' for a device that measures and records the amount of something, such as gas, water, or electricity consumption.
A utility meter with a rotating dial and a glass cover attached to an outdoor wall.

Examples

El contador del agua está afuera de la casa.

The water meter is outside the house.

El video tiene un contador de visitas en la esquina.

The video has a view counter in the corner.

Measuring Devices

When 'contador' refers to a machine, it is always masculine, regardless of who owns it or where it is.

Meter vs. Metro

The most common mistake is using 'metro' when referring to a measuring device. Remember that 'metro' is only for the unit of length, while 'contador' is for devices that count or measure consumption.

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