Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| caro | /ˈkaɾo/ | |
| costoso | /kosˈtoso/ | |
| cariola (p.u.) | Peru |
Both caro and costoso are used to describe something that has a high price or cost.
Which one should you use?
While both terms mean expensive, caro is the most common word used in everyday conversation. In contrast, costoso can imply that something is costly in terms of resources or effort in addition to its monetary price.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
caro is the everyday term, whereas costoso is a more formal option often found in written contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, people often prefer using caro over costoso. In Peru, the regionalism cariola is used to mean expensive. costoso is also widely used across many Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, caro must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use cara for feminine singular nouns, caros for masculine plural nouns and caras for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaɾo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using más caro to mean 'very expensive'. Instead, use muy caro for 'very expensive'.
Did you know?
- The word caro shares the same Latin root as the English words 'caress' and 'cherish'.
- In a figurative sense, the phrase salir caro is often used to describe a mistake or a decision that results in a heavy personal or emotional toll rather than money.
- In some contexts, caro can be used to describe someone who is being 'stingy' or 'difficult' to get something from, rather than the price of an item.
Examples in context
- Esto no es caro.This is not expensive.This sentence shows how to negate the adjective using caro.Tatoeba #1216399 by cueyayotl, translation #1216159 by jared1981
- Un piano es caro.A piano is expensive.This sentence uses caro to describe a singular noun.Tatoeba #576673 by Shishir, translation #34908 by CK
- ¿Cuál es más caro?Which one is more expensive?This sentence shows how to use caro in a comparative way to ask which is more expensive.Tatoeba #1205950 by cueyayotl, translation #1192246 by Talonmalon
- El restaurante en esa ciudad es muy costoso.The restaurant in that city is very expensive.
- La joyería tiene relojes costosos.The jewelry store has expensive watches.
- Estos zapatos son muy caros.These shoes are very expensive.
- La compañía ofrece productos caros pero de alta calidad.The company offers expensive but high-quality products.
- 246 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are shopping for a new phone.
- AlejandroMira este teléfono, es muy moderno.Look at this phone, it is very modern.
- SofíaSí, pero me parece demasiado caro.Yes, but it seems too expensive to me.
- Alejandro¿Prefieres buscar uno más barato?Do you prefer to look for a cheaper one?
- SofíaSí, porque este es muy caro.Yes, because this one is very expensive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “expensive” translations and entries caro, costoso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caro, costoso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
