What does tanto in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word tanto in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use tanto in Spanish.

The word tanto in Spanish means so much, so long, as much as, so much, so many, as many as, as many as, point, informed of, aware, every so often, lump-sum contract, as much as, as many... as, occasionally, sometimes, from so much, once in a while, while, whereas, as long as, in the meantime, while, meanwhile. in the meantime, do so much, be so long, be so long since, keep up-to-date, score, meanwhile, not really, inform, so, therefore, so, it's no big deal, both one and the other, so much so, as much as necessary, so much as to, as much as possible, such was the case that, so much so that, it makes no difference, it's all the same, the same or more than, the same or more as, so much the worse for, a certain percentage, both, some have so much while others have so little. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word tanto

so much

adverbio (comparación implícita: cantidad)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Anoche estaba cansadísima; creo que nunca había dormido tanto.
I was worn out last night: I don't think I'd ever slept so much.

so long

adverbio (comparación implícita: tiempo)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
No puedes tardar tanto en hacer los deberes. ¿Un año? No puedo esperarte tanto.
You can't take so long to do your homework.

as much as

locución adverbial (compara magnitudes)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Estos trabajadores no ganan tanto como quisieran.
These workers don't earn as much as they would like.

so much

locución adverbial (expresa consecuencia)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Este vestido me gustó tanto que lo compré en dos colores diferentes.
I liked the dress so much that I bought it in two different colors.

so many

locución adjetiva (expresa consecuencia) (countable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Tengo tantos problemas que no sé qué hacer.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I have so much anxiety. I think I need to see a therapist.

as many as

locución adjetiva (compara magnitudes) (countable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
En esta sala hay tantas personas como en la de abajo.
There are as many people in this room as there are downstairs.

as many as

locución pronominal (en la misma cantidad) (countable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Conté los platos: había tantos como invitados.
I counted the plates: there were as many as there were guests.

point

nombre masculino (en deportes: punto) (sport)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
El defensa marcó el tanto de la victoria.
The defence scored the winning point.

informed of

locución preposicional (enterado de algo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le pedí a mi hijo que me mantuviera al tanto del estado de salud de mi nieta. Tienes que estar al tanto de las noticias para conversar con mi abuelo.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. The team kept the boss in the loop on the progress of the new project.

aware

locución adjetiva (enterado)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
¿No estás al tanto? Ha habido un accidente.
Are you not aware? There's been an accident.

every so often

locución adverbial (con poca frecuencia)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Hago ejercicio cada tanto y no estoy en buen estado.
I exercise every so often and I am not in good shape.

lump-sum contract

locución nominal masculina (der: por una suma de contado)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

as much as

locución pronominal (igual proporción)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
El atleta se esforzó tanto cuanto pudo, pero no ganó la carrera.
The athlete put in as much effort as she could, but she didn't win the race.

as many... as

locución pronominal (en la misma cantidad) (countable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cuando estuvo en el hospital, el abuelo se negó a recibirnos tantas veces cuantas fuimos a visitarlo.
When he was in hospital, grandpa refused to see us as many times as we went.

occasionally, sometimes

locución adverbial (de vez en cuando)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Me gusta salir a correr de rato en rato.
I like to go running occasionally.

from so much

locución adverbial (debido a)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Eurídice se murió y a Orfeo se le rompió el corazón de tanto sufrir.
Eurydice died and Orpheus' heart broke from so much suffering.

once in a while

locución adverbial (de vez en cuando)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
De tanto en tanto voy al teatro.
I go to the theater once in a while.

while

locución conjuntiva (durante el tiempo que)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
En tanto comes, yo empaco la maleta. Espérame en tanto termino de limpiar el piso.
While you eat, I'll pack my suitcase.

whereas

locución conjuntiva (mientras que) (contrasting ideas)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Los leones son polígamos, en tanto los lobos son monógamos.
Lions are polygamous, whereas wolves are monogamous.

as long as

locución adverbial (siempre que)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
En tanto que pueda ayudarte, voy a hacerlo.
As long as I can help you, I'm going to do it.

in the meantime

locución adverbial (mientras, mientras tanto)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Pasé dos meses buscando empleo y, entre tanto, actualicé mis conocimientos.
I spent two months looking for work and, in the meantime, I updated my skills.

while, meanwhile. in the meantime

adverbio (mientras, mientras tanto)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Pasé dos meses buscando empleo y, entretanto, actualicé mis conocimientos.
I spent two months looking for work and, in the meantime, I brushed up on my knowledge.

do so much

(actividad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¿Por qué haces tanto deporte?

be so long

(temporalidad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Desde hace tanto tiempo no sé nada de ti.

be so long since

locución verbal (temporalidad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¡Hace tanto que no salgo de fiesta!

keep up-to-date

locución verbal (informar, actualizar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Por favor, manténme al tanto de las novedades mientras esté fuera.
Please keep me up to date about things while I'm away.

score

locución verbal (deportes: obtener punto)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Estamos celebrando porque mi equipo acaba de marcar un tanto.
We are celebrating because my team just scored a point.

meanwhile

locución adverbial (entre tanto)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Limpia el polvo que, mientras tanto, yo barro la cocina.
You clean up the dust. Meanwhile, I'll sweep the kitchen.

not really

locución adverbial (expresa atenuación)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
–¿Tu jefe es un matusalén? –Pues ni tanto, tiene 40 años.

inform

locución verbal (informar, actualizar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Cada viernes tengo que poner al tanto a la dirección de los cambios semanales.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I'm catching up on French before my next trip to Europe.

so

locución adverbial (en virtud de)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
No tenemos suficiente dinero, por lo tanto, tendremos que reservar un hotel más barato.
We don't have enough money so we're going to have to book a cheaper hotel.

therefore, so

locución adverbial (así pues)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
El vuelo se canceló y, por tanto, tuvimos que quedarnos otra noche en el hotel.
The flight was cancelled so we had to stay another night in the hotel.

it's no big deal

expresión (coloquial (pide no exagerar)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Sé que la cena no estaba buena, pero no llores, Miguel: tampoco es para tanto.
I know dinner wasn't good, but don't cry, Miguel; it's no big deal.

both one and the other

locución adverbial (de igual manera)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

so much so

locución adverbial (incluso, aun)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Estoy cansado, tanto así que me iré a casa temprano.
I'm tired. So much so that I'm going home early.

as much as necessary

locución adverbial (todo lo requerido)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

so much as to

locución adverbial (denota comparación)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Estaba desesperado, pero no sé si tanto como para matarla.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I had money, but no so much as to afford a new car.

as much as possible

locución adverbial (en lo que se pueda)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Antes de su largo viaje, Fernando intentará estar con su familia tanto como sea posible.
Before his long trip, Fernando will try to spend as much time with his family as possible.

such was the case that, so much so that

locución conjuntiva (hasta el punto de que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Se sabe que el virus es altamente contagioso; tanto es así que los científicos recomiendan bañarse con agua caliente al volver a casa.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Amelia was anxious when she appeared at the audition, so much so that she forgot her lines.

it makes no difference, it's all the same

locución adverbial (coloquial (da lo mismo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Tanto monta abrir la caja como romperla.
Open the box or tear it, it makes no difference.

the same or more than, the same or more as

locución adverbial (indica grado, cantidad)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

so much the worse for

locución adjetiva (mucho peor, todavía peor)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Si Raúl se niega a aceptar la verdad, tanto peor para él.
If Raul continues to deny the truth, so much the worse for him.

a certain percentage

locución nominal masculina (cierto porcentaje)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
El agente recibe una comisión de un tanto por ciento del total de la venta.
The agent receives a certain percentage of the total sale.

both

locución pronominal (ambos por igual)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Tengo dos primos, y tanto uno como otro son muy amables conmigo. Las dos blusas eran tan bonitas que tenía ganas de comprarme tanto la una como la otra.
The two blouses were so beautiful that I wanted to buy both of them.

some have so much while others have so little

expresión (reparto injusto)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of tanto in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.