La Palabra Del Dia: "contar"

Question

contar ( kohn-tahr' )

verb ( to tell; to count )

We are still looking for a Spanish corrector. If you are interested, please send me a pm.

Also, I would like to thank all those that have so graciously donated their time in helping us with the Spanish corrections. Cordobesa, Dani, Julian, Luis, tiempo_de_es, Jimmy, Gex-Thunderstrom, leumas11, txustaboy, LuisCache, FELIZ77, Jubilado, billygoat, annierats, Neox and anyone else that has helped. Hopefully, I haven't left anyone out. .

There are many native English speakers here, most of us can offer great suggestions to the English sentences. I will do my best to go through them all, too. Use today's Word of the Day in your own Spanish sentence (and include the English translation as well). Try to use the word in a completely new way and vote on the sentences you like best. The winner will be chosen based upon the correct use of the word as well as the number of votes.

Guidelines:

Write sentences at least 5 words long, but don't write a paragraph either. Write your Spanish sentence, but include the English translation as well. Make the corrections suggested by other users and moderators in the comments section (try not to use personal pronouns unless absolutely necessary). Use your own words! (Don't use a translator, copy from a book, use song lyrics, etc.) Please keep political, religious or personal statements to a minimum. This is a practice game.

How to post a picture

Examples:

1. ¿Cómo fue tu cena con Jean-Paul? ¡Cuéntame todo!

How was your dinner with Jean-Paul? Tell me everything!

2. Estamos intentando enseñarle a nuestra hija cómo contar a diez.

We're trying to teach our daughter how to count to ten.

.

Hola princesa xx - ian-hill, Feb 4, 2015

Hola Ian xo - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Me encanta la foto. - AnnRon, Feb 4, 2015

Jeje Gracias. - rac1, Feb 6, 2015

Answer 1

Anda, cuéntame tus tristezas. Sabes lo que dicen, una pena compartida se transforma en media pena.

Come, tell me why you're sad. You know what they say: a shared sorrow is half a sorrow.

Nice. - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

A loyal companion. - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

:) - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

¡Qué bonita frase! - leumas11, Feb 4, 2015

:) - Raja-jani, Feb 4, 2015

Nice sentences. Was wondering if you need something like "por qué" to indicate "why" you're sad. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

TipaGal, stop thinking about word-for-word translations, but saying what is intended. For example, I am hungry = Tengo hambre (I have hunger.) - Raja-jani, Feb 4, 2015

@ 1Rajaji O.K. Sounds good to me. I don't have to get so picky with the words and focus on the understanding of the message. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

You got it TipaGal, and Manity knows what she writes. - Raja-jani, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 2

Cuando algo malo te ocurre, una estrategia de afrontamiento que se considera buena es contar chistes sobre lo que ha ocurrido, y una que se considera no tan buena es tomar mucho alcohol para tratar de olvidarlo.

When something bad happens to you, a coping mechanism that is considered to be good is to tell jokes about what has occurred, and one that is considered to be not so good is to drink a bunch of alcohol to try to forget it.

It's a trap. - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Great advise and sign! Don't professional stand-up comedians do both? - Jubilado, Feb 4, 2015

I do both. You may have noticed. - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

I learned in school that if someone does something to tick you off, say at the workplace, keep it in mind and make a joke about it in the future if the opportunity presents itself. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

very well :) - Pablo064, Feb 5, 2015

Gracias, Tiempo, por comprobarlo- debería ser very good o very well done. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 5, 2015

Muchas gracias Bosque!!! - Pablo064, Feb 5, 2015

Answer 3

Se dice que si puedes contar tu dinero no eres un hombre rico. Los ricos tienen contables para contar su dinero y evitar pagar los impuestos.

It's said that if you can count your money you're not rich.The rich have accountants who can count their money and arrange their tax-avoidance for them.

Jaja, es verdad. - Manity, Feb 4, 2015

I wonder why they're in the desert? - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

I think it is a secret course in tax avoidance.. Otherwise there is no accounting for it. - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

Wow, how very thoughtful. - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

" ............ Los ricos tienen contables (contadores) para contar su dinero y evitar pagar los impuestos." - leumas11, Feb 4, 2015

:) - ian-hill, Feb 4, 2015

Gracias, leumas. - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

always knew accountant to be "contador". Now I know "contable" means the same thing. Thanks. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

They are being secretive because we need their taxes for schools and hospitals. - jennysk, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 4

Tengo que contarte que me cuesta mucho cuando veo la cuenta para toda la compra que has traído en casa depués de visitar las tiendas... No me importa si fuera barato en las rebajas...

I have to tell you how much it pains me to see the bill for all the shopping you've brought home from your visit to the shops... I don't care if it was cheap in the sales...

And more often than not, stuff you will never use. - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

fantastic sentences. So realistic for many households. Thanks. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 5

El camarero contó el cuento de cuando contaba sus cuentas al fin del día y se volaron todas.

The waiter told the story of when he was counting his bills at the end of the day and they all blew away.

Why reflexive with volar, sir.. i think ..volaron should suffice, don't you think ?? - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

son't you think so ?? - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

The reflexive is used in the same way as "they all flew 'away' " as opposed to just "flew" - Daniela2041, Feb 4, 2015

OK - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

Good work, Jubi! Tienes mi voto! - Daniela2041, Feb 4, 2015

:) - rac1, Feb 5, 2015

Answer 6

Voy a contarte un cuento, no puedes creer.

I will tell you a story, you cannot believe.

Cute picture. :) - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

isn´t it? - aileia, Feb 4, 2015

Correction: un cuento for story - I've made this mistake over and over so now I know! - Jubilado, Feb 4, 2015

gracias por corregirme, no me di cuenta - aileia, Feb 4, 2015

:) - aileia, Feb 4, 2015

Hi, aileia. You can also say: "Voy a contarte un cuento" (singular) or "Voy a contarles" (plural). - LuisCache, Feb 4, 2015

You can say "Voy a contarte / les un cuento or una historia" - leumas11, Feb 4, 2015

:) - ian-hill, Feb 6, 2015

Answer 7

¡Siempre puedes contar conmigo, baby!

You can always count on me, baby!

Siempre parece muy muy distante :( - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

pareces** - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

@Daniela. confused over "No escribirte, ni llamarte" Does it mean "I don't write you, nor do I call you " even though "escribir" and "llamar" are in infinitive forms? - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

:) - Raja-jani, Feb 4, 2015

You are a sweetheart! :) - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Hi, Typa: The infinitives are best translated by present participles in English---"Not writing you, not calling you--" - Daniela2041, Feb 4, 2015

@ TipaGal: In English where we would use a gerund Spanish uses an infinitive, so "no llamarte / escribirte" mean not calling you / writing.you. Important detail to remember! - Jubilado, Feb 4, 2015

@Jubilado y @Daniela @Jublilado. Thanks for explanations. It's certainly different from English and I will make note of this. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

Tipa, it means "neither will i be able to call you nor write to you " - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 5, 2015

Answer 8

Están planeando ir a un espectáculo de la medianoche? Lo siento, pero para eso no cuenten conmigo.

Are you planning going to a midnight show? I'm sorry but you can count me out of that.

No cuentan conmigo would mean .. don't count on me ,, i am not too sure if it can be used in this sense :( - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

may be it can,, hope some native clarifies my doubt :( - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

Yes, it is used in this sense: "No cuenten conmigo". - LuisCache, Feb 4, 2015

Thanks, Luis, I consulted SD dictionary. Joy does not like to do that. - Raja-jani, Feb 4, 2015

Thanks Luis :) - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

Haha, Joy is a lazy boy, bro :) - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

Too late for me too. - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 9

¡Ay, cuánto me encanta tu amor! ¡Cuéntame más!

Oh, how I love your love! Tell me more!

Typical woman, we want more words! - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

I read somewhere that women speak almost 10,000 more words per day than men--the number may be off somewhat but the principle is there. - Daniela2041, Feb 4, 2015

Is it because women are more concerned than men are with being understood completely? - jim5489, Feb 4, 2015

No, we want somebody to listen! - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

Phew! Thanks for not showing my face in this poster. I want to keep my privacy :-) - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

Yep, tis true. And to listen. :) - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 10

Ella solía contarle todo. Los tiempos han cambiado.

She used to tell him everything.Times have changed.

Sad situation. - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Put the written accent on the "i" not the "a". Good example sentence. - Jubilado, Feb 4, 2015

gracias Senor... - osas-baby, Feb 4, 2015

Muy triste. - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

Yes, times have changed, now she tells everything to Ray :) - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

@ Joydeep , she can count on Ray.....wink! - osas-baby, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 11

Es posible que si contaran las historias de la Biblia a los niños de manera chistosa ellos las aprenderían mejor. It can be if they tell the histories of the Bible to the children in a funny way they learn them better.

Cute picture :) - Manity, Feb 4, 2015

Good illustration, Porcu. :) - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Es posible que si contaran las historias de la Biblia a los niños de manera chistosa ellos las aprenderían mejor. - leumas11, Feb 4, 2015

@ leumas Thanks for corrections. I learn from other people's mistakes as well as my own. Very helpful. - Sassette, Feb 5, 2015

Gracias leumas - porcupine7, Feb 5, 2015

Thanks Rac and Manity - porcupine7, Feb 5, 2015

Answer 12

Deseo (o Deseaba) que el genial espectáculo genial del de medio tiempo del Súper Bowl de Katy Perry contara con las mascotas de los Los Pitufos además de las mascotas de los tiburones, los arboles y las pelotas de playa. Por cierto, Katy es la voz de Pitufina en los las pelís de Los Pitufos.

I wish Katy Perry's wonderful Super Bowl halftime show had Smurf mascots in addition to the shark, tree, and beach ball mascots. By the way, Katy is the voice of Smurfette in the Smurf movies.

contar con=to have. Remember this because I see this all the time in my Spanish readings. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

Tipa Gal, I can't understand a word in either language. - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

But a vote for trying, smurfs, sharks in trees with balls??? - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

I'm referring to the beach scene with sharks, beach balls, and tree mascots in the halftime show. Was thinking of a Smurf mascot, as pictured with Katy, being included in that halftime segment. - Sassette, Feb 4, 2015

I didn't realize that was her voice. :) - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

See my note to you about infinitives under Daniela's post. - Jubilado, Feb 4, 2015

deseo or deseaba? que el genial espectáculo 'de' medio tiempo del Súper Bowl...con mascotas de Los Pitufos...en lAs pelis de Los Pitufos - Pablo064, Feb 5, 2015

@ tiempo_de_es Thanks for corrections. I like "Deseaba" better because while I still wish it is about an event that happened in the past. - Sassette, Feb 5, 2015

Answer 13

Siempre podemos contar con Ambi porque nunca se olvida de hacer esto hilo ..

We can always count on Ambi as she never forgets doing this thread ..

Indeed, thanks Rac! - annierats, Feb 4, 2015

Thank you so much, Jimmy and Annie! ♥♥ - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 14

Alguien Señor Pinocchio no contado el verdad, su nariz crecía.

When Mr. Pinocchio didn't tell the truth, his nose grew.

es decir verdad ,, contar verdad no me suena apropiada .. pero no estoy seguro ... - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

Creo que seria mejr decir : cuandoquiera que mentia penochio, se le alargara la nariz.. - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 4, 2015

Cuando Pinocho no decía la verdad, le crecía la nariz. - leumas11, Feb 4, 2015

Pobre Pinocchio. He learned the hard way. - rac1, Feb 4, 2015

Thank you for the corrections on decir v contrar, I still have much to learn. - jim5489, Feb 4, 2015

Answer 15

I had a hard time learning to count money in all the countries where I worked.

Tuve un problema para aprender a contar dinero en todos los paises en que trabajaba.

Tuve un problema para aprender 'a' contar dinero..en 'los' que trabajaba/trabajè' - Pablo064, Feb 5, 2015

I can just imagine, Katy. - rac1, Feb 5, 2015

But you had some to count! - annierats, Feb 5, 2015

Yes, a little to count. ha. - katydew, Feb 6, 2015