This is the 9577th most frequent Portuguese word.
contei
"Contei" means "I told" or "I counted" in English.
In this context, 'contei' is used as the first-person singular preterite form of the verb 'contar', meaning 'to tell'. It refers to the act of narrating a story.
Contei uma história ao meu amigo ontem.
I told my friend a story yesterday.
Here, 'contei' represents the same verb 'contar', but in the sense of 'to count'. It highlights the action of determining the number of items.
Já contei os livros na estante e são vinte.
I have already counted the books on the shelf and there are twenty.
In this usage, 'contei' extends to the sense of 'to rely upon', indicating dependence or trust in someone or something.