vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Cuentos" is a form of "cuento", a noun which is often translated as "story". "Contar chistes" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to tell jokes". Learn more about the difference between "cuentos" and "contar chistes" below.
el cuento(
kwehn
-
toh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (narrative)
a. story
Te voy a contar un cuento sobre un burro y una serpiente.I'm going to tell you a story about a donkey and a snake.
c. short story
Encontrarás el libro en la sección de cuentos de la biblioteca.You will find the book in the short story section of the library.
contar chistes(
kohn
-
tahr
chees
-
tehs
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (general)
a. to tell jokes
Cuando Mario se pone a contar chistes, no puedes parar de reír.When Mario starts telling jokes, you can't stop laughing.
