contáis

Contáis is the second-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb contar, meaning either to count or to tell. It is used with the pronoun vosotros, the informal plural subject in Spain and parts of other Spanish-speaking regions. In many Latin American varieties, the corresponding form for “you all” is ustedes cuentas, so contáis is less common outside Spain.

Phonology and orthography: contáis is pronounced /konˈtais/, with the stress on the syllable táis. The accent mark on the á indicates this stress and helps distinguish it from other forms of the verb.

Usage notes: Contáis can refer to counting numbers (contáis los votos, contáis hasta diez) or to recounting or narrating events (contáis una historia). The meaning is determined by the direct object or clause that follows.

Conjugation: Present indicative forms of contar include: yo cuento, tú cuentas, él/ella/Ud. cuenta, nosotros contamos, vosotros contáis, ellos/ellas/Uds. cuentan. Contar belongs to the -ar verb class, sharing its present-tense endings; otros tenses and moods adapt the same stem.

Regional considerations: The use of contáis signals informal second-person plural in regions that maintain the vosotros form. In Latin American Spanish, ustedes cuentan is typically used instead of vosotros contáis.

See also: Spanish verbs, Vosotros, Ustedes, Conjugation patterns for -ar verbs.