Difference between cómo and como in Spanish (with and without an accent)

There are words in Spanish which change their meaning simply when you use a written accent. Let's look at como vs cómo.

Spanish Cómo with an accent

Cómo is used in both direct and indirect exclamatory and interrogative sentences, it is generally translated as how.

For example:

¿Cómo tomas el té? ¿Con leche y sin azúcar?How do you take your tea? Milk no sugar?

No recuerdo cómo tomas el té. ¿Con leche y sin azúcar?I can't remember how you take your tea. Milk no sugar?

¡Cómo canta Shakira!Shakira sings so well! [lit: How Shakira sings!]
 

Spanish como without an accent

Como is a conjunction. It can be translated by as or like when it is used to introduce a comparison or a subordinate clause.

For example:

Como te decía antes, esa chica es muy vanidosa.As I was saying before, that girl is very vain.

No he conocido nunca a nadie como tú.I've never met anyone like you.

Spanish como (verb) without an accent

Bear in mind that como (without an accent) can also mean I eat (from regular verb comer, to eat.)

Yo no como verduras nunca
I never eat vegetables.

 

Remember:

  • Como = as, like (verb = I eat)
  • Cómo = how

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Examples and resources

Como te decía antes, esa chica es muy vanidosa.As I was saying before, that girl is very vain.
No he conocido nunca a nadie como tú.I've never met anyone like you.
¿Cómo tomas el té? ¿Con leche y sin azúcar?How do you take your tea? Milk no sugar?
No recuerdo cómo tomas el té. ¿Con leche y sin azúcar?I can't remember how you take your tea. Milk no sugar?
¡Cómo canta Shakira!Shakira sings so well! [lit: How Shakira sings!]
Let me take a look at that...