como

See also: Appendix:Variations of "como"

Asturian

Etymology

Inherited from Old Leonese commo, como, cuemo, from Latin cōmō̆, a non-literary form of quōmodo.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkomo/ [ˈko.mo]
  • Hyphenation: co‧mo

Verb

como

  1. first-person singular present indicative of comer

Alternative forms

Adverb

como

  1. how
  2. as

Conjunction

como

  1. since, because

Galician

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese como, from Latin cōmō̆, a non-literary form of quōmodo.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkomo/ [ˈko.mʊ]
  • Rhymes: -omo
  • Hyphenation: co‧mo

Adverb

como

  1. how
  2. as

Conjunction

como

  1. since, because
    Como che quero ben, dígoche non
    Because I really love you, I tell you no.

Verb

como

  1. first-person singular present indicative of comer

Further reading

Interlingua

Etymology

From Catalan com, French comment, Italian come, Portuguese como, Romanian cum, Spanish cómo, descendants of Latin cōmō̆, a non-literary form of quōmodo.

Adverb

como (not comparable)

  1. (interrogative) how
    Como interpreta Jamblicho iste function del anima?
    How does Iamblichus interpret this function of the soul?

Latin

Etymology 1

From con- +‎ emō. Compare with its uncontracted form coemō.

Pronunciation

Verb

cōmō (present infinitive cōmere, perfect active cōmpsī, supine cōmptum); third conjugation

  1. to bring together, form, frame, construct, arrange
  2. (usually of hair) to take care of, care for; comb, dress; braid
  3. (in general) to adorn, deck, dress, ornament
Conjugation

Etymology 2

  • From quōmodo through consonant elision or some kind of metanalysis of the /d/ when the following /o/ elided in antevocalic position. Cf. the Romance reflexes compounded with et. Securely attested from mid-1st c. CE onwards.

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    • (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈkoː.moː], [ˈkoː.mɔ]
    • (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈkɔ.mɔ]
    • Note: the length of the final vowel is unattested. It most likely displayed the same vacillation as the other adverbs such as ergō and vērō during the post-Augustan period. Romance descendants show both open and closed first vowel.

    Adverb

    cōmō̆ (not comparable)

    1. (non-literary) alternative form of quōmodō̆ (in what manner or way, how)
    Descendants

    References

    • Daniela Urbanová (2016), “Alcune particolarità della comparazione (quomodo – sic, quemadmodum – sic, ita uti – sic) in latino volgare, con particolare attenzione alle defixiones”, in Graeco-Latina Brunensia[1] (in Italian), number 2, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 329–343

    Further reading

    • como”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
    • como”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
    • como”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
    • como”, in Richard Stillwell et al., editor (1976), The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press

    Macanese

    Etymology

    From Portuguese como. The usage with assí is likely a calque of Cantonese 好似.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈkɔ.mu/

    Adverb

    como

    1. as, like
      Synonym: ramendâ
      vístido como dóci di muivery well-dressed (literally, “dressed like plum jam”)
      alegre como côpo-côpo na primavera na dia de solhappy as a butterfly on a sunny day in spring
      Êle vestí como padre assí.
      He dresses like a priest.
      Nôs nunca-sâm como acunga jovi-jóvi; nôs sâm chacha vêla-ia, sâm nunca?
      We are not like those youngsters; we are old ladies already, aren't we?

    Usage notes

    Old Galician-Portuguese

    Etymology

  • From Latin cōmō̆, a non-literary form of quōmodo.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈko.mo/

    Conjunction

    como

    1. how (the fact that; the way that)

    Descendants

    • Fala: cómu, comu, cumu
    • Galician: como, coma
    • Portuguese: como

    Portuguese

    Etymology 1

  • From Old Galician-Portuguese como (how; in what way), from Latin cōmō̆, a non-literary form of quōmodo.

    Pronunciation

     
    • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈkõ.mu/
      • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈko.mo/
     

    • Audio (Brazil):(file)
    • Audio (Brazil):(file)
    • Audio (Northern Portugal):(file)
    • Hyphenation: co‧mo

    Adverb

    como (not comparable)

    1. how (in what way, manner)
      Como (é que) se frita um ovo?
      How does one fry an egg?
    2. why; how could (for what cause, reason, or purpose), when the action is considered reproachful
      Como (é que) fizeram isto?
      How could they do this?
    3. such as; like; for example: introduces an example or list of examples
      Synonym: tais como
      Já visitei vários países, como a Holanda, a Ucrânia e a Nova Zelândia.
      I’ve been to various countries, such as the Netherlands, Ukraine and New Zealand.
    4. like; just alike; similarly to
      (O) Teu vestido é vermelho como sangue.
      Your dress is red like blood.
    5. how: indicates surprise, delight or other strong feelings
      Como é emocionante a história.
      How thrilling is the story.
    Usage notes

    When used as a modifier to indicate surprise, como precedes a clause, while que precedes an adjective.

    • Que maravilhoso!How wonderful!
    • Como é maravilhoso!How wonderful it is!
    Quotations

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:como.

    Synonyms
    Derived terms

    Conjunction

    como

    1. but also; as well as (introduces an exceptional characteristic)
      Ela não só leu o livro como escreveu uma crítica.
      She didn’t only read the book, but also wrote a review.
      Sou tão feio como burro.
      I am ugly as well as stupid.
    2. like; as (in the same way that; according to what)
      Como podem conferir por si mesmos, o animal já estava morto.
      As you can check for yourselves, the animal was already dead.
      • 2003, J. K. Rowling, Lia Wyler, Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix, Rocco, page 538:
        Sinto muito ter de contradizê-la, Minerva, mas, como pode ver no meu bilhete, Harry tem obtido resultados muito fracos nas minhas aulas...
        I'm sorry to contradict you, Minerva, but, as you can see in my note, Harry has obtained very weak results in my classes...
    3. (only in the main clause) as; because; since (introduces a reason or motive)
      Como choveu, ficamos/ficámos em casa.
      As it rained, we stayed at home.
    4. how to; a way of
      O professor ensinou-me/me ensinou como fazer subtrações.
      The teacher taught me how to do subtractions.
      Há/Tem como chegarmos mais cedo?
      Is there a way for us to arrive earlier?
    Quotations

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:como.

    Interjection

    como?

    1. (interrogative) what? sorry? pardon? (used as a request for someone to repeat something not heard or understood clearly)
      Synonyms: desculpe?, perdão?, oi? (Brazil), pode repetir?
    Quotations

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:como.

    Preposition

    como

    1. as (in the role of)
      Synonym: de
      Todos queriam jogar como feiticeiro/mago.
      Everyone wanted to play as a wizard.

    Etymology 2

  • See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

     
    • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈkõ.mu/
      • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈko.mo/

    • Audio (Brazil):(file)
    • Hyphenation: co‧mo

    Verb

    como

    1. first-person singular present indicative of comer
    Quotations

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:comer.

    Sardinian

    Etymology

    From Vulgar Latin *eccum modo. Compare Romanian acum.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈkomo/

    Adverb

    como

    1. now

    References

    • Wagner, Max Leopold (1960–1964), “kòmo”, in Dizionario etimologico sardo, Heidelberg

    Spanish

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈkomo/ [ˈko.mo]
    • Audio (Latin America):(file)
    • Rhymes: -omo
    • Syllabification: co‧mo
    • Homophone: cómo

    Etymology 1

    Inherited from Old Spanish commo, from Latin cōmō̆, a non-literary form of quōmodo (how). Cognate with Catalan com, Italian come and French comme.

    Adverb

    como

    1. as (to such an extent or degree)
      No es tan alta como nosotras.
      She's not as tall as us.
    2. like, about (approximately)
      Hemos esperado como media hora.
      We've waited like half an hour.

    Conjunction

    como

    1. as (introducing a basis of comparison or equality)
      ¿Tienes tanta hambre como yo?
      Are you as hungry as I am?
    2. as, since (being that)
      Synonym: ya que
      Como nunca vio mi mensaje, vamos sin ella.
      Since she never saw my message, we're going without her.
    3. how (in which way)
      Me gusta como hablas.
      I like how you talk.
    4. (followed by the subjunctive) if, unless (under the condition that)
      Synonym: si
      Como llegues tarde otra vez, ¡te mato!
      If you arrive late again, I'll kill you!

    Preposition

    como

    1. as (in the manner or role specified)
      Mis ahijados me ven como un tío.
      My godchildren see me as an uncle.
    2. such as (for example)
      Synonyms: por ejemplo, como por ejemplo
      Algunos países de Asia, como Laos y Vietnam...
      Some countries in Asia, such as Laos and Vietnam...
    3. like (similar to, reminiscent of)
      Llevan gafas redondas como las de John Lennon.
      They wear round glasses like John Lennon's.
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

    See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

    Verb

    como

    1. first-person singular present indicative of comer

    Further reading