Inklingo

How to Say "you calculate" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cuentes

/kwehn-tehs//ˈkwen.tes/

verbA1general
Use this when you mean 'you count' or 'you tally' a specific number of items or steps.
A young child with bright clothing pointing at a pile of five large, colorful wooden blocks on a table, illustrating the act of counting.

Examples

Necesito que cuentes hasta diez antes de abrir los ojos.

I need you to count to ten before opening your eyes.

No cuentes los pollos antes de que nazcan.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. (Negative command)

Why 'cuentes' is special

'Cuentes' is the 'tú' form of the verb 'contar' used in a special mood (called the subjunctive) when you are talking about wishes, doubts, emotions, or commands.

Stem Change

The vowel 'o' in the middle of 'contar' changes to 'ue' in most forms, including 'cuentes', but not in the 'nosotros' or 'vosotros' forms (e.g., 'contamos').

Forgetting the stem change

Mistake: “Espero que tú *contas* el dinero.”

Correction: Espero que tú *cuentes* el dinero. Remember the 'o' changes to 'ue' here.

cifras

/SEE-frahs//ˈsifɾas/

verbB2general
Use this when you mean 'you estimate', 'you value', or 'you assess' something, often abstractly or based on data.
A person holding a pencil and looking thoughtfully at a large pile of apples, estimating how many there are.

Examples

Tú cifras el éxito en el trabajo duro.

You base success on hard work.

Si cifras el mensaje, nadie podrá leerlo.

If you code the message, nobody will be able to read it.

The 'You' Form

This specific form 'cifras' is used when talking to one person you know well (informal) in the present tense.

Counting vs. Estimating

Learners often confuse 'cuentes' (to count) with 'cifras' (to estimate or value). Remember that 'cuentes' is for numerical counting, like counting objects or steps, while 'cifras' is for assessing or valuing something more abstractly.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.