¿cuánto cuesta?
/ˈkwanto ˈkwesta/word by word
The English phrase "how much does it cost?" is translated into Spanish as ¿cuánto cuesta?
The phrase ¿cuánto cuesta? is a question used to ask for the price of an item.
Which one should you use?
¿cuánto es? is a common, slightly more casual alternative used when asking for a total amount. In Spain, ¿Cuánto vale? is used interchangeably with ¿cuánto cuesta? to mean "How much does it cost?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you need to be more formal, you can use ¿Cuál es el precio? or ¿qué precio tiene? For a more informal approach, you can use ¿Cuánto sale?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Central America, ¿A cómo está? is used to mean "How much is it?" In Colombia, ¿Cuánto pide? is used to mean "How much are you asking for?" In some regions of Spain, ¿A cuánto está? is used to mean "How much is it?"
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkwanto ˈkwesta/
Did you know?
- The word cuánto is a distant relative of the Sanskrit word kíyat. These languages both trace back to a prehistoric root meaning 'how much' or 'how many'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿cuánto cuesta? in a market is often the starting point for a negotiation rather than a request for a fixed price.
- If you use the phrase ¿Cuánto sale?, you are literally asking 'How much does it go out?', treating the price as a movement or an exit.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuánto cuesta este libro?How much does this book cost?
- ¿Cuánto vale esta comida?How much is this meal?
- ¿Cuánto cuestan estas frutas?How much do these fruits cost?
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are at a street market.
- DanielHola, Elena. Mira este reloj, ¿cuánto cuesta?Hello, Elena. Look at this watch, how much does it cost?
- ElenaNo lo sé, Daniel. Pregúntale al vendedor.I don't know, Daniel. Ask the vendor.
- DanielCuesta veinte euros.It costs twenty euros.
- ElenaEs muy barato, cómpralo.It is very cheap, buy it.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cuánto, cuesta) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuesta, cuánto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
