The Spanish preposition como can be translated as like or as in English so what’s the difference? There is a lot of controversy about the correct usage of like and as in English and even natives get in wrong! In this blog I’m not going to get caught up in a discussion about whether like and as are prepositions or conjunctions, I just want to talk about the meaning of the words to helps Spanish speakers understand the difference!

Compare the following sentences:

1 Marina has a friend who works as an editor

2 Marina has a friend who works like an editor

In sentence 1 Marina’s friend is an editor

In sentence 2 Marina’s friend isn’t an editor but her work is similar to that of an editor.

As is often used to refer to the appearance or function of someone or something for example:

• I used to work as a flight attendant
• Fingernails should not be used as tools
• She’s as cold as ice

Like is often used to say that someone or something is similar to someone else or something else for example:

• My boyfriend looks like George Clooney
• He drives like a maniac
• She sings like an angel