¿cuánto cuesta?
/ˈkwanto ˈkwesta/word by word
The English phrase "how much is it?" is translated into Spanish as ¿cuánto cuesta?
¿cuánto cuesta? is a question used to ask for the price of an item.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally "how much does it cost?"
Which one should you use?
While ¿cuánto cuesta? is a standard way to ask for a price, ¿cuánto es? is a common alternative often used specifically when asking for a total bill. Additionally, ¿Cuál es el precio? translates to "What is the price?" and serves as a more formal option.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word cuánto in a question, it must have an accent mark on the a.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkwanto ˈkwesta/
Did you know?
- Because cuesta is derived from the Latin word for 'rib', it shares an ancestral root with the English word 'coast', which refers to the edge of a landmass.
- In many Spanish-speaking markets, it is common to negotiate the price after asking ¿cuánto cuesta?, a practice known as regateo.
- While ¿cuánto cuesta? asks for the price, Spanish speakers often use ¿a cuánto? as a shorthand in fast-paced market settings.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuánto cuesta el libro?How much does the book cost?
- ¿Cuánto cuesta en pesos?How much is it in pesos?
- ¿Cuánto cuesta esta camisa?How much does this shirt cost?
- Cuesta $30.It costs $30.
- ¿Cuánto vale el pasaje de autobús?How much is the bus fare?
- ¿Cuánto cuesta este libro?How much does this book cost?
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.
