The Spanish verb 'contar' (to count) comes from the Latin word 'computare', meaning 'to calculate or compute'. This Latin word was formed by combining two elements: the prefix 'con-' meaning 'together, with' and the verb 'putare' meaning 'to prune, reckon, or think'. The original meaning in Latin of 'computare' was literally about 'thinking together' or 'reckoning together', which evolved into the more specific meaning of calculation and counting. Over time, as Latin evolved into Spanish, 'computare' was simplified to 'contar', while maintaining its core meaning of counting.

Several common Spanish words are related to 'contar', including 'cuenta' (account, bill), 'cuento' (story, tale), and 'contador' (accountant). These words all share the basic idea of counting or accounting, though 'cuento' has evolved to specifically mean a story or tale, perhaps from the notion of 'recounting' or 'giving an account of' events.

English speakers might recognize the connection between 'contar' and words like 'compute', 'computer', and 'count', which all come from the same Latin root 'computare'. The English word 'account' is also related, preserving both the 'count' base and the 'ac-' (from 'ad-') prefix meaning 'to' or 'towards'. Even the word 'recount' when used to mean 'tell a story' shows a similar semantic development to the Spanish 'cuento'.