como: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
N/A (Non-English Lexical Item)Formal/Neutral when used in English in a foreign language context; Informal in conversational code-switching.
Quick answer
What does “como” mean?
A Spanish or Portuguese word meaning 'how', 'like', or 'as'. It functions as an interrogative, a conjunction, or a comparative particle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Spanish or Portuguese word meaning 'how', 'like', or 'as'. It functions as an interrogative, a conjunction, or a comparative particle.
In Spanish/Portuguese, it can also express approximation ('about'), cause ('since'), and be part of common phrases. As a non-English word, it appears in English contexts in proper nouns (e.g., Lake Como), borrowed phrases, or when quoting/using foreign language terms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No systemic difference in the treatment of the Spanish/Portuguese word 'como' between UK and US English. Both treat it as a foreign lexical item.
Connotations
May evoke associations with Italian geography (Lake Como), Latin American/Spanish culture, or Portuguese language.
Frequency
Frequency in English corpora is extremely low and tied to specific contexts (travel, linguistics, multicultural references).
Grammar
How to Use “como” in a Sentence
Interrogative: ¿Cómo + verb? (How...?)Comparative: tan/tanto + adjective/noun + como (as...as)Conjunction: como + clause (as/since)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “como” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- In the Spanish phrase, it functions adverbially: '¿Cómo llegaste?' (How did you arrive?)
American English
- In the Portuguese sentence, it acts as an adverb: 'Como está você?' (How are you?)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in names of international firms or in Spanish/Portuguese communications.
Academic
Appears in foreign language studies, linguistics, and cultural studies texts.
Everyday
Most common in travel contexts (Lake Como) or among bilingual speakers using Spanish/Portuguese phrases.
Technical
Virtually non-existent in technical English domains.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “como”
- Using 'como' in an English sentence as if it were English (e.g., 'He did it como I said').
- Mispronouncing the Italian 'Como' with a hard /kʌ/ sound instead of /kɒ/ or /koʊ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'como' is not a standard English word. It is a common word in Spanish and Portuguese that appears in English contexts mainly in proper nouns (e.g., Lake Como) or when quoting foreign phrases.
It primarily means 'how' (interrogative), 'like', or 'as' (comparative/conjunction). Its meaning depends on context.
In British English, it is typically /ˈkɒməʊ/. In American English, it is typically /ˈkoʊmoʊ/.
Only if you are directly quoting a Spanish/Portuguese phrase, discussing the word itself linguistically, or referring to the proper noun (Como). It should be italicised or in quotation marks to mark its foreign status.
A Spanish or Portuguese word meaning 'how', 'like', or 'as'. It functions as an interrogative, a conjunction, or a comparative particle.
Como is usually formal/neutral when used in english in a foreign language context; informal in conversational code-switching. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “¿Cómo te va?”
- “como pez en el agua”
- “como quien dice”
- “como si nada”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'COMO' as 'Compare Or Match Others' – it often sets up comparisons (like/as).
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMILARITY IS PROXIMITY / MANNER IS A PATH ('how' you do something is the path you take).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'como' most likely to be used correctly in an English-language text?