What does contar mean?
contar means to count; to tally in English. It is a irregular -ar verb.
It can also be used with these related meanings: to tell (a story); narrate; to be (a certain number of years of age).
Spanish verb guide
Contar Conjugation in Spanish
Learn contar, meaning to count; to tally, through verified forms and contextual examples.
irregular-argerund: contandoparticiple: contado
Principal forms of contar
- Infinitive
- contar
- Gerund
- contando
- Past participle
- contado
Contar conjugation table
Compare the present, preterite, imperfect, and future forms. Reflexive pronouns are included where the verb requires them.
| Pronoun | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | cuento | conté | contaba | contaré |
| tú | cuentas | contaste | contabas | contarás |
| él / ella / usted | cuenta | contó | contaba | contará |
| nosotros/as | contamos | contamos | contábamos | contaremos |
| ellos/as / ustedes | cuentan | contaron | contaban | contarán |
Pattern notes
- Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the present.
Examples with contar
Él me lo contó todo.He told me everything.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
No te lo conté todo.I didn't tell you everything.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Cuenta de uno a diez.Count from one to ten.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Practice prompts
- Conjugate contar for yo in the present.
- Use the preterite form for ella.
- Say the nosotros/as imperfect form.
- Write a short sentence in the future.
Practice contar online
Use VerbyGo for a quick conjugation round with instant feedback and accent checking.