Spanish · Everyday Verbs

"to believe" in Spanish: creer

creer

Say it: kreh-EHR / KREH-ohverb/kre.ˈeɾ/

To believe in Spanish is creer. Say yo creo and no lo creo. Creo que… often means I think that in everyday talk.

Opinion

Creo que el tren sale a las tres.
I think the train leaves at three.
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How to pronounce creer

Say it

kreh-EHR / KREH-oh

/kre.ˈeɾ/

kreh-EHR. Two clear vowels: kreh-EHR. Yo creo is KREH-oh.

"to believe" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
creerto believe / to think that

Dictionary form.

yo creoI believe / I think

Present first person.

creo queI think that

Opinion opener.

no lo creoI don't believe it

Surprise or doubt.

tú creesyou believe

Informal present.

How to use creer in real life

  1. 1Opinion

    Creo que el tren sale a las tres.

    I think the train leaves at three.

    Creo que = I think that.

  2. 2Doubt

    No lo creo. ¿De verdad?

    I don't believe it. Really?

    No lo creo shows surprise.

  3. 3Trust

    Te creo. Gracias por decirme.

    I believe you. Thanks for telling me.

    Te creo is personal trust.

Mistakes English speakers make with creer

Incorrect: Yo creer que sí.

Correct: Yo creo que sí.

Conjugate: yo creo, not creer.

Incorrect: Yo creo de que sí (extra de).

Correct: Yo creo que sí.

Use creo que, not creo de que in standard Latin American speech.

Good to know

Creo que… is the default soft opinion. No lo creo reacts to surprising news. Faith talk uses creer en. Avoid inventing dialect rules; stick to creo que as the safe pattern.

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Reacting to surprising news

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Crees que va a llover?

    Do you think it's going to rain?

  2. You

    Creo que sí. Traje paraguas.

    I think so. I brought an umbrella.

  3. ChatPal

    Yo no lo creo todavía.

    I still don't believe it.

  4. You

    Mira las nubes negras allá.

    Look at the dark clouds over there.

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"to believe" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to believe" in Spanish

How do I say I think that…?

Creo que…

I don't believe it?

No lo creo.

Creer vs pensar?

Creer que = think that / believe; pensar = think/reflect.

How do you pronounce creer?

kreh-EHR — two vowels, stress on EHR.

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