economía
/ekonoˈmia/feminine
The Spanish word for economics is economía.
Economía refers to the study of resource and wealth allocation, consumption and distribution, of capital and investment and of the management of the factors of production. It can also refer to the application of this study to a particular domain.
Meaning: study of resource and wealth allocation, consumption, and distribution, of capital and investment, and of management of the factors of production, application of this study to a particular domain (noun)
Which one should you use?
In English, there is a distinction between "economics" (the field of study) and "economy" (the system). In Spanish, the single word economía is used for both the field of study and the economic system.
How does it change in a sentence?
Economía is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ekonoˈmia/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the plural form economías to refer to the field of study. In Spanish, you should use the singular economía to refer to the discipline.
Did you know?
- The word economía is used in Spanish to describe not just a financial system, but also the act of being frugal or saving money, as in hacer economía.
- The word economía shares a root with the English word 'ecology', as both derive from the Greek oîkos meaning 'house'.
- In a professional context, if you call someone an economista, you are specifically identifying them as an expert in this single discipline, regardless of how broad their actual work might be.
Examples in context
- Ella se especializó en economía.She majored in economics.This sentence shows how to express a major of study using economía.Tatoeba #636834 by Leono, translation #313379 by CK
- María sabe muy poco sobre economía.Maria knows very little about economics.This sentence demonstrates expressing a lack of knowledge about the subject with economía.Tatoeba #1404439 by hayastan, translation #1404512 by marcelostockle
- Él es una gran autoridad en economía.He is a great authority on economics.This sentence shows how to describe an authority in the field using economía.Tatoeba #1359266 by hayastan, translation #295712 by CM
- Estudio economía en la universidadI study economics at the university
- La teoría económica de Adam Smith es muy influyenteAdam Smith's economic theory is very influential
- El análisis económico nos ayuda a entender las causas de la recesiónEconomic analysis helps us understand the causes of the recession
- Estudio economía política en la universidadI study political economy at the university
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing their university majors.
- LucíaHola Javier, ¿qué carrera estás estudiando?Hello Javier, what degree are you studying?
- JavierEstoy estudiando economía este año.I am studying economics this year.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! Me gusta mucho la economía.That's great! I like economics a lot.
- JavierEs una materia muy interesante, Lucía.It is a very interesting subject, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “economics” translations and entries economía, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries economía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
