En comptes de
Example: Vaig anar a la platja en comptes de quedar-me a casa.
Definition
"En comptes de" is a Catalan prepositional phrase used to indicate substitution or replacement, meaning 'instead of' or 'in place of.' It shows that one action or choice is made as an alternative to another, as in choosing to go to the beach rather than staying home.
Etymology
The phrase "en comptes de" comes from Catalan, where "comptes" originally referred to 'accounts' or 'calculations.' Over time, the phrase evolved to express the idea of considering alternatives or replacements, much like 'accounting for' one option instead of another. Did you know? Despite its literal components, it functions idiomatically to mean 'instead of.'
Learn to use this word actively
"En comptes de" appears in the Vocaplus list "Catalan - General - (A1) - set 2", containing 103 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select Catalan as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
