barato
price, neutral
For a low price Mexicans say barato, and económico is the more polite way. For a stingy person the slang word is codo.
Meaning: low in price, or stingy (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| barato | price, neutral |
| económico | polite |
| codo | stingy, slang |
Está barato means it is cheap. Es muy barato can sometimes suggest poor quality, so económico is safer in a shop.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Codo for a stingy person is typically Mexican, as in Ese señor es muy codo. It is informal and a little teasing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes with gender: barato, barata, baratos, baratas.
Did you know?
- In Mexico the word codo for a stingy person comes from the body part, the elbow, which is a stiff joint.
Examples in context
- Este mercado es muy barato.This market is very cheap.
- Busco un hotel económico.I am looking for an inexpensive hotel.
- No seas codo, invita.Do not be cheap, treat us.
Example conversation
Fer and her friend Ale compare prices at a market in Puebla.
- Fer¿Cuánto cuesta esta blusa?How much is this blouse?
- AleCien pesos, está barata.A hundred pesos, it is cheap.
- FerEntonces me llevo dos.Then I will take two.
