Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| codicioso | /kodiˈθjoso/ /kodiˈsjoso/ |
| avaricioso | /abaɾiˈθjoso/ /abaɾiˈsjoso/ |
| ávido | /ˈabido/ |
| avaro | /aˈbaɾo/ |
| avorazado | /aboɾaˈθado/ /aboɾaˈsado/ |
| angurriento | /anɡuˈrjento/ |
| avariento | /abaˈɾjento/ |
In Spanish, the term you choose depends on whether you are describing a craving for wealth, a refusal to spend money or an eagerness for a specific activity.
Which one should you use?
While codicioso is the most direct translation for a general desire for wealth or possessions, avaricioso is also used for being greedy. If you want to describe someone who is specifically miserly or refuses to spend money, use avaro. In contrast, ávido is often used in a neutral or even positive sense to mean being eager or keen, such as an avid reader. For a more colloquial and derogatory way to describe someone who is grasping or taking more than their share, use angurriento.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form must agree in gender with the person being described. For example, codicioso changes to codiciosa when describing a female.
How do you pronounce it?
/kodiˈθjoso/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, describing someone as angurriento can specifically refer to a greed for food rather than just money.
- The word avaro is frequently used to describe the fictional character Ebenezer Scrooge in Spanish translations of 'A Christmas Carol'.
- The term avorazado describes a type of greed that is 'devouring', often used for someone who consumes resources or food insatiably.
Examples in context
- Tom nunca fue avaro.Tom never was greedy.This sentence shows the use of avaro.Tatoeba #7975821 by helq, translation #3428664 by CK
- No seas tan avaricioso.Don't be so greedy.This sentence demonstrates the use of avaricioso.Tatoeba #1036471 by Shishir, translation #66827 by CK
- Es egoísta y avaricioso.He is selfish and greedy.This sentence shows how avaricioso can be paired with another adjective to describe a person.Tatoeba #1859851 by Shishir, translation #298460 by CK
- Es un hombre avariciosoHe is a greedy man
- Ella es muy codiciosa y siempre quiere másShe is very greedy and always wants more
- No le gusta gastar dinero, es muy agarradoHe doesn't like to spend money, he's very greedy
- Es un glotón de poderHe is greedy for power
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a wealthy business owner.
- MateoEse hombre tiene mucho dinero, pero es muy codicioso.That man has a lot of money, but he is very greedy.
- ElenaTienes razón, nunca comparte nada con los demás.You're right, he never shares anything with others.
- MateoSolo piensa en ganar más y más cada día.He only thinks about earning more and more every day.
- ElenaEs triste que sea tan codicioso con su fortuna.It's sad that he is so greedy with his fortune.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greedy” translations and entries codicioso, avaricioso, ávido, avaro, avorazado, angurriento, avariento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
