"think" or "believe"?

Question

I would like to know the exact difference between "think" and "believe". I would appreciate your help.

Answer 1

Here are some examples were the two words are NOT interchangeable.

• I believe in God (I have a religious faith).
• I believe in Santa Claus (you accept him as true, real).

• You told me the truth, so I believe you (I accept that you are honest).

• I think about you all the time (you are in my mind and thoughts).

• You must think before you answer (this is the process of thinking).
• What were you thinking? (what was going on in your head).

Answer 2

In English these can be used interchangeably at times. In the following examples the words "think" and "believe" mean the same thing.

1. Where's Bob? I believe he's at the store. (this is something you think/believe to be true)

2. Where's Mary? I think she's at the beach. (this is something you believe/think to be true).

The dictionary says that "believe" is to accept as true, genuine, or to hold an opinion of something. It says that to "think" is to have an opinion.

Please note that "believe" and "think" can have many different meanings depending on the context; however, I think/believe that you wanted a comparison of how they are used interchangeably.

I can give you want other examples of other meanings of "think" and "believe."

Answer 3

Here are some examples were the two words are NOT interchangeable.

Excellent post, Marianne, these exaples are exactly applicable to Spanish too.

(please read your PM)

puffff, I know, I know spelling is mandatory here....I thought" applyable" looked just fine! lol - 00494d19, Sep 1, 2009

Answer 4

Heidita is right.

"Pensar" is the process of thinking. And "creer" is when you have an opinion about something.

I am thinking now.

Yet you can say: I am thinking that you are pretty. (But it is the process, not the opinion).

Then the correct thing would be this: yo creo que eres guapa.

Answer 5

En realidad no, Marianne, mira lo que dicen en el post 13 de este hilo.

Pienso que eres muy guapa.

This is not used in Spain.

Answer 6

In my opinion, "believe" carries more force in English than "think".

This is particularly true when trying to justify past actions.

"I thought the gun was unloaded." "I believed the gun to be unloaded."

The latter sentence sounds a lot more forceful. It's as if I had REASON to believe that the gun was unloaded, versus merely "thinking" it was unloaded.

I have found that "I think" or "I thought" is less persuasive than "I believe/believed"

Answer 7

Not really, Marianne, we use creer for both, that's why Nila is asking.

Creo que Pedro está en la tienda. (not sure about it) Creo en Dios. (believe ) Creo que estás equivocado. ( I am quite sure...)

When I say English students are confused I mean they use the word "pensar" to say what they believe. Instead of "creer" they'd say "pienso él está en la tienda." - --Mariana--, Sep 1, 2009

Answer 8

Yes, we have always used them interchangeably to mean "have an opinion."

It sounds a bit more educated to say "I believe you are correct" instead of "I think you are correct."

Of course, there are many other uses of the two words, but in this case they can both be used to mean the same thing.

Because in English "think" can often substitute for "believe" English-speaking students learning Spanish often incorrectly interchange "creer" with "pensar." - --Mariana--, Sep 1, 2009

Answer 9

I see your point, Nila, English speaking natives often use believe when we would use think.

I believe you are the boss here?

I don't know if that is a rather "new" usage.

This is not new. We use "think" and "believe" interchangeably all the time. Spanish has two words for this: "creer" and "pensar." - --Mariana--, Sep 1, 2009

Answer 10

I think/believe that you wanted a comparison of how they are used interchangeably.

Hi Marianne, thanks, has this always been like this? I mean, believe in the sense of think, interchangable?