Using the Spanish Verb Contar

Although contar is a cognate of the English verb to count, it has a wide variety of meanings, some of which seem more closely related to the variety of meanings of account. Perhaps the most obvious meaning of contar is to count in the sense of to add up: Quiero encontrar un programa que cuenta las palabras de que se compone una web. I want to find a program that counts the words that make up a web page. Es posible perder peso sin contar calorà ­as. It is possible to lose weight without counting calories. Contamos las horas para estar con ustedes. We are counting the hours until we are with you. At least as common is using contar to mean to tell (as in to give an accounting of): Contà ³ la historia de un chico que decidià ³ grabar todo en una cà ¡mara de và ­deo. He told the story of a boy who decided to record everything on a videocamera. El amor de mi vida no me ha contado que es casado. The love of my life hasnt told me that hes married. No se lo cuentes a nadie. Dont tell it to anybody. When it is followed by a time period, contar can often be translated as to have: Cuenta 10 aà ±os de experiencia en montaà ±ismo. He has 10 years of experience in mountaineering. Another meaning is to take into account: Cuenta que esto no es todo. (He is taking into account that this isnt everything.) The phrase tener en cuenta also is frequently used for that meaning. Contar occasionally means to count in the sense of to matter: La corte ha declarado que este error no cuenta. The court has ruled that this error is immaterial. The phrase contar con usually means to count on or to rely on: Para ese trabajo contà © con los expertos mexicanos. For that work I counted on the Mexican experts. Gracias a la nueva ley, contaremos con un sistema de pensiones. Thanks to the new law, we will count on a pension system. Cuento contigo. Im counting on you. Sometimes, contar con has the same basic meaning but is best translated in a weaker fashion, depending on the context: Contamos con una legislacià ³n que norme el uso del ADN humano. Were expecting a piece of legislation that would set standards for the use of human DNA. Cuento con los derechos de reventa de este producto. I have the resale rights for this product. Occasionally, contar con can be translated directly as to count with: Contà © con los dedos de mi mano. I counted with my fingers. Con esto no yo contaba. I wasnt expecting that. In question form, contar can be used as a friendly way of showing interest in what a person is doing:  ¿Quà © cuentas? (Whats happening?) The reflexive form can be used in the same way:  ¿Quà © te cuentas? In reflexive form, contarse often can be literally translated as to count oneself or otherwise to indicate the concept of inclusion: Muchos escritores escriben por impulso, y me cuento entre à ©stos. Many writers write on impulse, and I count myself among them. Los medios espaà ±oles se cuentan entre los mejores del mundo. The Spanish media are among the best in the world. Keep in mind that is conjugated irregularly.