Mastering Conmigo and Contigo
When you begin learning Spanish, you quickly meet tiny but powerful words like conmigo and contigo. At first, they might look like normal words — but in reality they’re a very old fusion of a preposition and a pronoun. These forms are essential because they show up constantly in everyday Spanish, and using them correctly instantly makes your Spanish sound more natural and fluent.
This guide will explain what they mean, how they’re formed, why they’re unique, and how to practice them.
1. The Basics: “Con” + Pronoun
The preposition con means “with.” Usually it combines directly with pronouns, for example:
- con él – with him
- con ella – with her
- con nosotros – with us
But Spanish does something special with mí and ti:
| Preposition + Pronoun | Regular Form | Special Form | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| con + mí | con mí | conmigo | with me |
| con + ti | con ti | contigo | with you |
| con + sí (reflexive) | con sí | consigo | with himself/herself/themselves |
These are the official forms — con mí and con ti are incorrect.
2. Examples in Action
- ¿Vienes conmigo al cine?
(Are you coming with me to the movies?) - Quiero hablar contigo después de clase.
(I want to talk with you after class.) - Él siempre lleva un libro consigo.
(He always carries a book with him.)
Notice how in the last example you could also say “con él” instead of “consigo” in everyday speech.
3. “Consigo” Explained
Consigo literally means “with himself/herself/themselves.” It’s less common and sounds formal or literary:
- María se llevó un mapa consigo en el viaje.
(María took a map with her on the trip.)
In everyday speech, most people would simply say “con ella.”
4. When Not to Contract
With all other pronouns, the words remain separate:
- con él, con ella, con usted
- con nosotros, con vosotros, con ustedes
- con ellos
And with other prepositions you don’t contract at all:
- para mí / para ti
- sin mí / sin ti
- hacia mí / hacia ti
Here mí and ti stay as they are. Only con contracts.
5. Pronunciation & Accent Notes
| Word | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| conmigo | [konˈmiɣo] | “mí” keeps its stress, becomes “mi” inside the word. |
| contigo | [konˈtiɣo] | “ti” keeps its stress naturally. |
| consigo | [konˈsiɣo] | Often in formal/literary registers. |
Tip:
mí (with an accent) = “me” after prepositions.
mi (no accent) = “my.” ti never has an accent.
6. Quick “Do & Don’t” Box
Correct forms:
- conmigo (with me)
- contigo (with you)
- consigo (with him/her/themself)
Incorrect forms:
- con mí
- con ti
- con sí
7. Etymology and Fun Facts
- These forms come from Latin:
- mecum = “with me”
- tecum = “with you”
- secum = “with himself/herself”
- Spanish eventually added con and fused it with the pronoun to form conmigo, contigo, and consigo.
- Portuguese still uses comigo and contigo; Italian has con me and con te but doesn’t fuse them.
Spanish therefore preserves a very old pattern from Latin, making these words a living linguistic fossil.
8. Mini Dialogue
Ana: ¿Vienes conmigo a la playa mañana?
Luis: Claro, ¿y puedo llevar a mi hermano conmigo?
Ana: Por supuesto. Y trae protector solar contigo para no quemarte.
9. Practice Exercises
A. Fill in the Blank
Complete with conmigo, contigo, or consigo.
- ¿Quieres venir ______ al concierto?
- Ella siempre lleva su cuaderno ______.
- Quiero vivir ______, te necesito.
- ¿Puedes traer tus llaves ______ para mostrármelas?
Answers:
1. conmigo, 2. consigo, 3. contigo, 4. contigo
B. Multiple Choice
Choose the correct form.
- (Conmigo / Con mí) vas a aprender mucho.
- Él siempre tiene su teléfono (consigo / con sí).
- ¿Quieres ir (conmigo/ con ti) al mercado?
Answers:
1. Conmigo, 2. Consigo, 3. Conmigo
10. Memorise
- Conmigo: con + mí → “with me”
- Contigo: con + ti → “with you”
- Consigo: con + sí → “with himself/herself/themselves”
Conclusion
Words like conmigo, contigo, and consigo are more than just vocabulary — they’re a peek into the history of Spanish. They come directly from Latin patterns and have survived centuries of language change. Mastering these forms makes your Spanish more authentic, avoids the beginner mistake of saying con mí or con ti, and helps you sound fluent and natural in everyday conversation.
Think of them as Spanish’s “secret handshake.” Once you know them, you’re speaking like an insider. Practice the exercises, use them in real conversations, and soon they’ll feel automatic.
Speak like an insider — master conmigo and contigo for Spanish that feels natural, fluent, and alive.
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