Using the Spanish Verb Creer

Using the Spanish Verb Creer With few exceptions, the Spanish verb creer can be used much the same way as the English verb to believe. It sometimes can be a bit weaker in meaning than to believe and is thus often better translated as to think. In other words, creer is often used to mean that someone believes something is probable rather than that it is a certain fact. Creer Que When a statement is made about what a person believes or thinks, creer is typically followed by que and the statement of belief: Creo que el presidente hizo lo que tenà ­a que hacer. I think the president did what he had to do.Los mayas creeron que las formas en la luna que muchos ven como el hombre en la luna son un conejo que salta. The Mayans believed that the shapes in the moon that many see as the man in the moon are a jumping rabbit.Creen que los estudiantes no estudian. They think the students arent studying.Creemos que tenemos una mà ­nima chance. We believe we have a slight chance. No Creer If creer is used in a negative form, the verb following que typically is in the subjunctive mood: No creo que el paà ­s està © en crisis. I dont think the country is in a crisis.No creemos que exista un telà ©fono perfecto para todos. We dont believe there exists a perfect telephone for everyone.La Comisià ³n Europea no cree que el motor de bà ºsqueda vulnere la privacidad del usuario. The European Commission doesnt believe that the search engine violates the users privacy. Creer Object Creer also can be followed by a direct object rather than que: No creo lo que me dices. I dont believe what youre telling me.Cree las noticias malas y desconfà ­a de las buenas. He believes the bad news and distrusts the good news.Creo la televisià ³n. I believe the television. Creer En Creer en is typically the equivalent of the English to believe in or to have faith in. It can mean either to give credence to a concept or to have trust or faith in a person. Algunos no creen en la evolucià ³n. Some dont believe in evolution.Creo en la educacià ³n bilingà ¼e. I believe in bilingual education.No creemos en las polà ­ticas de extrema derecha. We dont believe in the politics of the extreme right.Cuando se lucha por una causa, es porque se cree en ella. When one fights for a cause, it is because one believes in it.Parece que el à ºnico que cree en Pablo es à ©l mismo. It seems that the only one who believes in Pablo is he himself.El paà ­s cree en Presidente y en las fuerzas armadas. The country trusts the president and the armed forces. Creer In a Religious Context In some contexts, creer standing alone can have a religious meaning, just as does to believe in English. Thus in some contexts, Creo (I believe) is the equivalent of Creo en Dios (I believe in God). Creerse The reflexive form, creerse, is often used with little discernible change in meaning from creer. However, the reflexive form sometimes is used to add emphasis: Me creo que eres mi ngel de la guarda. (I truly believe you are my guardian angel.) The negative reflexive form often offers a tone of incredulity:  ¡No me lo creo! (I cant believe it!) Related Words Creer is a cousin of English words such as creed, credibility, credible and credence, all of which have meanings related to the concept of belief. Related words in Spanish include creencia (belief), creà ­ble (credible), credo (creed), creyente (believer) and crà ©dulo (credulous). Negative forms use the prefix in-: increencia, increà ­ble, incrà ©dulo. Conjugation Creer is conjugated regularly in terms of pronunciation but not in terms of spelling. Irregular forms youre most likely to run across are the past participle (creà ­do), the gerund (creyendo) and the preterite forms (yo creà ­, tu creà ­ste, usted/à ©l/ella creyà ³, nosotros/as creà ­mos, vosotros/as creà ­steis, ustedes/ellos/ellas creyeron).