Introduction
Learning the difference between Explicar and Contar is essential for Portuguese learners who want to speak clearly and avoid confusing explanations with storytelling. These two verbs are both translated as explain or tell in English, but they serve different functions in Brazilian Portuguese and follow distinct grammar and usage patterns.
- Overview: Explicar vs Contar
- Conjugation basics and common forms
- When to use Explicar
- When to use Contar
- Comparative examples: Explicar vs Contar in similar contexts
- Grammar points: objects, complements, and clauses
- Common phrases and collocations
- Cultural and usage notes for Brazilian Portuguese
- Common learner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Advanced nuances: tone, implication, and focus
- Practical examples in conversation
- Resources to practice
- Conclusion
Overview: Explicar vs Contar
Explicar means to clarify, to make something understandable, or to give reasons and details about how or why something happens. It focuses on causes, processes, definitions, and logical relationships.
Contar has two primary meanings: to tell (a story, information) and to count (numbers). In the context compared with Explicar, Contar is used for narrating events, sharing personal experiences, or relaying information in a sequence.
Core distinction
The simplest way to separate them is to think about intention.
If the intention is to make something clear or provide an explanation, use explicar.
If the intention is to narrate, report events, or tell a story, use contar.
Conjugation basics and common forms
Both verbs are regular in their respective conjugation patterns in Portuguese.
Explicar (regular -ar verb):
eu explico
tu explicas
ele/ela explica
nós explicamos
vocês explicam
eles explicam
Contar (regular -ar verb, but also has stem change in some dialects for certain tenses like contar -> conto):
eu conto
tu contas
ele/ela conta
nós contamos
vocês contam
eles contam
Use in infinitive and gerund forms
Infinitive forms are used after modal verbs or as nouns: explicar, contar.
Gerund forms are used for ongoing actions: explicando, contando.
When to use Explicar
Use explicar when you want to make something understandable or give reasons. This includes:
- Definitions and clarifications
- Step-by-step instructions or processes
- Reasons or causes
- Teaching and academic contexts
Examples:
O professor explicou a gramática de forma muito clara.
Ele explicou por que a aula foi cancelada.
Você pode explicar como funciona o aplicativo?
Typical sentence structures with Explicar
Explicar often takes a direct object introduced by que, como, por que, or a clause introduced by para or a preposition.
Examples:
Ela explicou que tinham mudado o horário da reunião.
Ele explicou como montar a estante passo a passo.
Preciso explicar para os clientes as novas regras.
Pronouns and prepositions with Explicar
Common patterns:
explicar algo a alguém or explicar algo para alguém
Explicaram a situação aos funcionários.
Posso explicar isso para você?
When to use Contar
Use contar to narrate events, relate facts, tell a joke, or convey what someone said. It is about sequence, plot, or reported speech.
Examples:
Ela contou a história da infância dela.
Você já contou essa piada para o João?
Ele contou o que aconteceu ontem à noite.
Contar as to relay vs contar as to count
Be aware that contar also means to count numbers.
Examples:
Minha avó contou até dez com as crianças.
Consegue contar quantas cadeiras há na sala?
Context tells you whether someone is narrating or counting.
Typical sentence structures with Contar
Contar commonly appears with direct objects that are narratives, stories, or information, and often with para or a to indicate the listener.
Examples:
Ele contou a história para nós.
Posso te contar um segredo?
Ela contou tudo ao delegado.
Comparative examples: Explicar vs Contar in similar contexts
Seeing both verbs in parallel sentences helps clarify their distinct roles.
Context: You want to communicate a change at work.
Use to explain: Ele explicou as novas regras da empresa.
Meaning: He clarified the new company rules, gave details and reasons.
Use to tell: Ele contou a novidade para toda a equipe.
Meaning: He told the news to the whole team, i.e., he shared an announcement or story.
Context: You want to describe an accident.
Use to explain: O médico explicou o que causou o acidente.
Meaning: The doctor explained the cause.
Use to tell: A testemunha contou o acidente à polícia.
Meaning: The witness told the police what happened.
Subtle differences in reported speech
When reporting information, both verbs can be possible, but the nuance changes.
Maria explicou que não poderia ir. (Maria clarified the reasons she could not go.)
Maria contou que não poderia ir. (Maria told others that she could not go; emphasis on reporting the fact.)
Grammar points: objects, complements, and clauses
Explicar often introduces a subordinate clause with que, para que, or como, and can be followed by an object pronoun.
Examples:
Expliquei que o prazo mudou.
Expliquei como funciona o processo.
Explique-me a sua ideia. (formal) or Me explique a sua ideia. (colloquial)
Contar usually takes a direct object (a história, a notícia, o segredo) and is frequently followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the listener.
Examples:
Conte a verdade para mim.
Ela me contou uma história engraçada.
Eles contaram tudo aos pais.
Reported questions and indirect speech
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, both verbs are used but with different connectors:
Com explicar, use que or como for explanations: Ela explicou que não havia sinal.
Com contar, use que to report: Ele contou que tinha chegado tarde.
Common phrases and collocations
Explicar collocations:
- explicar um conceito
- explicar as causas
- explicar passo a passo
- explicar para alguém
Contar collocations:
- contar uma história
- contar um segredo
- contar uma piada
- contar para alguém
Idiomatic uses
Some idiomatic uses are important to recognize:
Contar com means to count on or rely on: Eu conto com você para ajudar.
Here contar shifts meaning and is not about narration.
Explicar-se means to explain oneself: Ele se explicou depois da reunião.
This implies giving an account or justification.
Cultural and usage notes for Brazilian Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese favors conversational clarity. In everyday speech, people often prefer contar when relating personal stories or gossip because it emphasizes the narrative aspect, while explicar is used in educational, professional, and technical contexts.
Informal contractions and pronoun placement matter. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, you will commonly hear me, te, se before the verb (Me explica isso; Me conta a história), although the formal written order uses verbs before pronouns.
Examples:
Me explica isso direito, por favor. (colloquial, very common)
Explique-me isso direito, por favor. (more formal)
Me conta como foi a viagem! (casual and friendly)
Conte-me como foi a viagem. (formal)
Politeness and formality
Use the imperative or polite constructions to avoid sounding abrupt.
Informal: Conta pra mim como foi.
Formal: Conte-me como foi.
Informal: Explica isso de novo?
Formal: Poderia explicar isso novamente?
Common learner mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Using explicar when you mean to narrate. Saying Expliquei a festa ontem might confuse listeners; prefer Contei sobre a festa ontem or Falei sobre a festa ontem.
Mistake 2: Using contar when you mean to clarify. Saying Contei as regras não funciona; use Expliquei as regras instead because you want to make rules clear.
Mistake 3: Confusing contar com with other uses of contar. Remember contar com means to rely on someone, not to narrate.
Tips to choose correctly
Ask yourself: Am I giving reasons and clarification or am I narrating events? If reasons and clarity, use explicar. If recounting or telling a story, use contar.
Advanced nuances: tone, implication, and focus
Using explicar signals a didactic or logical focus. It implies that the speaker has an understanding to transfer. Using contar signals a focus on sequence, emotion, or surprise. It can also imply trust or intimacy when used in personal contexts.
Example to show tone difference:
Ela explicou o problema com calma. (She calmly clarified the issue; informative tone.)
Ela contou o problema com raiva. (She told about the problem angrily; emotional and narrative tone.)
Using both verbs together
Sometimes you need both: explain the facts and then tell the story. In this case both verbs are natural in sequence.
Example:
Primeiro, vou explicar o que aconteceu; depois, conto a história completa. (First, I will explain what happened; then I will tell the whole story.)
Practical examples in conversation
Short dialogues showing natural use:
Amigo A: Me conta o que aconteceu ontem.
Amigo B: Primeiro eu explico o contexto: estávamos atrasados por causa do trânsito. Depois eu conto os detalhes da briga no restaurante.
Professor: Posso explicar essa parte novamente?
Aluno: Sim, por favor, explique como resolver esse exercício.
Resources to practice
To internalize the difference, listen to Brazilian podcasts and note when speakers use explicar versus contar. Pay attention to context: news and lectures use explicar, storytelling podcasts and vlogs use contar.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between Explicar and Contar helps you communicate more precisely in Brazilian Portuguese. Use explicar for clarification, causes, and step-by-step information, and use contar for narratives, reporting events, and telling stories. Context, tone, and verb complements will guide your choice and make your Portuguese sound natural and accurate.
