The Portuguese verb "contar" means "to count/tell" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "contar" across all 5 tenses. New to Portuguese verbs? Start with the Portuguese verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "contar" in the Present Tense
Presente do indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | conto |
| tu | you (informal) | contas |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | conta |
| nós | we | contamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | contais |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | contam |
Ela conta a verdade sempre.
She tells the truth always.
How to Conjugate "contar" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfeito simples Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | contei |
| tu | you (informal) | contaste |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | contou |
| nós | we | contámos |
| vós | you all (formal) | contastes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | contaram |
Ela contou a verdade toda.
She told the whole truth.
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Pretérito imperfeito Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | contava |
| tu | you (informal) | contavas |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | contava |
| nós | we | contávamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | contáveis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | contavam |
Ela contava segredos à melhor amiga.
She used to tell secrets to her best friend.
How to Conjugate "contar" in the Future Tense
Futuro do presente Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | contarei |
| tu | you (informal) | contarás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | contará |
| nós | we | contaremos |
| vós | you all (formal) | contareis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | contarão |
Ele contará tudo para a família.
He will tell everything to the family.
How to Conjugate "contar" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | contaria |
| tu | you (informal) | contarias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | contaria |
| nós | we | contaríamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | contaríeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | contariam |
Ele contaria os dias até lá.
He would count the days until then.
Frequently Asked Questions About "contar"
Is "contar" regular or irregular in Portuguese?
"Contar" is a regular Portuguese verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "contar" mean in English?
The Portuguese verb "contar" means "to count/tell" in English.
How do you conjugate "contar" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente do indicativo): eu → conto, tu → contas, ele/ela/você → conta, nós → contamos, vós → contais, eles/elas/vocês → contam.
How many tenses does "contar" have in Portuguese?
"Contar" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Portuguese: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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