Mastering Accents in Spanish: Cómo vs. Como and More

One of the trickiest things about Spanish for English speakers is the use of accent marks. These little lines can completely change the meaning of a word. A great example of this is the difference between como and cómo.

Without an accent, como often means “like” or “as.” For example:

Cocino como mi abuela. – I cook like my grandmother.

But with an accent, cómo becomes a question word that means “how”:

¿Cómo estás? – How are you?

There are other words that follow a similar pattern. Here are a few examples:

Que vs. Qué
Que – that: El libro que compré.
Qué – what: ¿Qué haces?

Paying attention to accents will not only improve your writing but also help your reading and listening skills. It’s one of those small details that make a big difference.

Want more tips like this? Start practicing with Lingobi and take your Spanish to the next level.