contar vs narrar
Portuguese word comparison
Listen to contar
Listen to narrar
| contar | narrar |
|---|---|
/con-TAR/ verb | /na-RAR/ verb |
| to tell, recount, or narrate something; it can also mean to count numbers in some contexts | to narrate; to tell a story or describe events in sequence |
How they differ
“Narrar” is more specific than “contar” when the focus is on telling a story, report, or sequence of events. “Contar” is broader and can also mean to tell something more casually or to count numbers.
When to use each
When to use contar: Use “contar” when you want a more general verb for telling, saying, recounting, or counting.
When to use narrar: Use “narrar” when you are emphasizing a story-like, organized retelling of events.
Side-by-side examples
- Ela contou o que aconteceu na reunião.
(She told what happened in the meeting.) - Ela narrou o que aconteceu na reunião.
(She narrated what happened in the meeting.)
Register & nuance: “Narrar” sounds a bit more formal and literary than “contar”.