Inklingo

How to Say "such as" in Spanish

English → Spanish

como

/KO-mo//ˈko.mo/

Adverb / ConjunctionA1General
Use 'como' when you want to compare two things or introduce examples in a general or informal context.
A chameleon on a green leaf, perfectly matching its color, to represent the idea of 'like' or 'as'.

Examples

Me gustan las frutas, como las manzanas y los plátanos.

I like fruits, such as apples and bananas.

Tu perro es tan grande como un caballo.

Your dog is as big as a horse.

Ella trabaja como traductora.

She works as a translator.

Me gustan las frutas, como las fresas y las naranjas.

I like fruits, such as strawberries and oranges.

Making Comparisons

Use 'tan' + [description] + 'como' to say two things are equal in some way. For example, 'Es tan rápido como el viento' (He's as fast as the wind).

Describing Roles or Jobs

You can use 'como' to explain someone's job or function. 'Actúa como el jefe' means 'He acts as the boss.'

tales

/TAH-less//ˈtales/

Adverbial Phrase ComponentB1Formal
Use 'tales' (often as part of 'tales como') to introduce a list of specific examples, especially in more formal writing or when you want to sound more precise.
A brown wicker basket overflowing with various items: specifically an apple, a banana, and an orange lying outside the basket, illustrating examples of a category.

Examples

Necesitamos frutas, tales como manzanas, peras y plátanos.

We need fruits, such as apples, pears, and bananas.

Hay muchos desafíos, tales como la falta de tiempo y recursos.

There are many challenges, such as the lack of time and resources.

Fixed Phrase

The expression 'tales como' is always used together to introduce a list of examples that fit the category you just mentioned.

Choosing between 'como' and 'tales'

The most common mistake is overusing 'tales' in everyday conversation. While 'tales como' is grammatically correct for examples, 'como' is much more frequent and natural in most situations. Stick to 'como' unless you are writing formally or specifically want to emphasize the list of examples.

Related Translations

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