🤓 What does 'como' mean in Spanish? A fun guide for learners 🇪🇸✨

❓ What is the use of como in Spanish?

Como is one of the most versatile words in the Spanish language. It can mean like, as, I eat, since, or around — depending on context.

Here are the main uses:

🍽️  Como = I eat (from the verb comer)

Como is the first person singular form of comer.

Example:
👉 Yo como pasta todos los días. (I eat pasta every day)

 

Short dialogue:
👦: ¿Qué comes? (What are you eating?)

 

🧑‍🍳: Como ensalada. (I’m eating salad)

 

🔍 Cómo (with accent) = How? (questions and exclamations)

Use cómo when you are asking about a manner, method or condition.

Examples:
👉 ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)

 

👉 ¿Cómo llego al centro? (How do I get to the city centre?)

 

👉 ¿Cómo te llamas? (What is your name?)

 

👉 ¡Cómo me gusta este lugar! (How much I like this place!)

 

Mini dialogue:
👩: ¿Cómo se hace esta tortilla? (How do you make this tortilla?)

👨‍🍳: Es muy fácil.(– It’s very easy)

🟨  Como (no accent) = Like / As (comparative / similarity)

It expresses similarity, the same way as like or as in English.

Examples:
👉 Habla español como un nativo. (He speaks Spanish like a native)

 

👉 Trabajo como profesor.(I work as a teacher)

 

👉 Eres como mi hermano. (You're like my brother)

🧭 Como = About / Around (approximation)

Very common in spoken Spanish.

Examples:

👉 Tardo como diez minutos. (It takes me about ten minutes).

 

👉 Cuesta como 20 euros. (It costs around 20 euros).

🧠 Como = Since / Because (cause)

Often used at the beginning of sentences.

Examples:

👉 Como estaba lloviendo, no salimos. (Since it was raining, we didn't go out).

 

👉 Como no vino, empezamos sin él. (Since he didn't come, we started without him).

 

🆚 Does como mean eat or how?

Great question! Students often mix them up. Here's the secret:

✔️ Como = I eat

👉 It’s a verb and NEVER has an accent.

✔️ Cómo = How?

👉 It ALWAYS takes an accent in questions and exclamations.

🌟 Tip for learners:
If you can replace it with how, then you need cómo with an accent.
If you can replace it with I eat, then it’s como without an accent.

 🤓 Cómo (with accent): meanings and real examples

Cómo is super important for asking questions about:

🧭 Directions

👉 ¿Cómo voy a la estación? (How do I get to the station?)

 

🎭 Manner

👉 ¿Cómo bailas tan bien? (How do you dance so well?)

 

🧑‍💼 Identity or name

👉 ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?)

 

💡Condition

👉 ¿Cómo estás hoy? (How are you today?)

 

📚 Common mistakes students make (and how to fix them)

❌ Saying: Cómo verduras todos los días

 ✅ Correct: Como verduras todos los días. (I eat vegetables every day.)

❌ Writing: Como te llamas?

 ✅ Correct: ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?)

❌ Saying: Es como llego meaning 'that’s how I arrive'

 ✅ Correct:  Así es cómo llego. (This is how I arrive.)

Lots of students forget the accent — but accents matter in Spanish… A LOT! 😅

🗣️ Mini diálogos para practicar (super useful!)

⭐ Asking for directions

👩‍🦰: Perdona, ¿cómo llego al museo? (Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?)

👨: Vas todo recto y giras a la derecha. ( Go straight and turn right.)

⭐ Ordering food

Camarero: ¿Cómo lo quiere? (How do you want it?)

Cliente: Lo quiero bien hecho, por favor. ( Well done, please.)

⭐ Talking about habits

Amigo 1: Yo como muy sano. (I eat very healthily)

Amigo 2: ¡Cómo me alegro!  (How glad I am!)

🗂️ Useful vocabulary: words commonly found near como / cómo

👉 comida (food)
👉 comer (to eat)
👉 así (like this)
👉 igual que (the same as)
👉 como si (as if)
👉 de la misma manera (in the same way)
👉 más o menos (around / approximately)
👉 ¿cómo es? (what is it like?)
👉 ¿cómo se dice? (how do you say…?)

💥 Bonus: Como si = 'as if'

This structure is VERY common and uses the SUBJUNCTIVE.

👉 Habla como si fuera famoso. (He talks as if he were famous).

 

👉 Me mira como si no me conociera. (She looks at me as if she didn't know me).

 

👉 Como Dios manda = properly / the right way

 

👉 Como mínimo = at least

 

👉 Como mucho = at most

 

👉 Como nuevo = like new

 

👉 Como siempre = as always

 

👉 Como tú quieras = as you wish

 

Example:
👉 Hazlo como tú quieras. (Do it however you like).

 

 ✅ Conclusion

 Now you know that como can mean I eat, like, as, around, or since, while cómo (with an accent!) means how. 🧠✨
It’s one of the most confusing words for Spanish learners, but once you master it, your Spanish becomes WAY more natural.

🤓 Como vs Cómo: Test your Spanish superpowers!

Put your Spanish skills to the test! Choose the correct answer in each question and check whether you really understand the difference between como and cómo.

Ready? Let’s go! 🚀🇪🇸

 

💬 What about you?

🤔 Have you ever confused como and cómo? 😲 Which meaning surprised you the most? 📝Can you write a sentence using both como and cómo?

💛 Write your answers in the comments!