Learning Spanish - Creer Vs. Pensar

The Spanish verbs creer and pensar may be confusing to English speakers, upon reading the dictionary definition.

Pensar means to think and creer means to believe. In English, think is overloaded with both connotations:

I think that could be fun.

I think about morning coffee, while I wait for the bus.

I believe you’re right.

I believe in Bigfoot.

In English, think can either mean:

1. Hold a belief or opinion, to suppose.
2. Use the mind to process ideas or to reflect.

Very often, when we say “I think X”, we are supposing (creer). There’s no actual thinking process involved, it’s a belief that is already being held.

Less frequently, we mean to reflect, such as “I need to think this over” (pensar). There is actual thinking involved and this takes time.

These semantics carry over to spanish but their verbs have stronger delineation. These two verbs are strongly relatedly, explaining why it’s overloaded: the result of a thinking session can form a new belief. With this understanding, you can expect to use creer much more frequently. Unless you’re some kind of philosopher or perpetually in another state of mind 🤪.

Mnemonic

Creer means to believe that something has credence.

Pensar means to reflect and be in a pensive state.