precioso
/pɾeˈθjoso/
The English word 'precious' can be translated into Spanish as precioso. Wiktionary also lists preciado.
Meaning: of high value or worth (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| precioso | /pɾeˈθjoso/ /pɾeˈsjoso/ |
| preciado | /pɾeˈθjado/ /pɾeˈsjado/ |
The term is used to describe something of high value or worth. However, in common usage, precioso is very frequently used to mean 'beautiful' or 'lovely' when describing objects or scenery.
Which one should you use?
preciado is typically used as a past participle to describe something that is highly valued or held dear by someone, rather than describing its inherent material worth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, so use preciosa for feminine nouns. The adjective must agree in number with the noun it modifies, so use preciosos for masculine plural nouns and preciosas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾeˈθjoso/
Did you know?
- While 'precious' in English almost always implies value, calling a person precioso in Spanish can sound patronizing or overly sweet, as it is often used for babies or pets.
- The word precioso shares a root with the word precio, meaning 'price'. This links the idea of being 'precious' directly to the cost or market value of an item.
- The suffix -oso in precioso is used in Spanish to turn nouns into adjectives that imply an abundance of a quality, similar to the English suffix 'full' as in 'beautiful'.
Examples in context
- No me digas que no es precioso.Don't tell me that not it's precious.This sentence uses precioso to express an opinion on beauty.Tatoeba #12939385 by stebnbr, translation #12953946 by mexicanhere
- Estamos desperdiciando tiempo precioso.We're wasting precious time.This sentence uses precioso to describe the value of time.Tatoeba #3802340 by cueyayotl, translation #2953949 by CK
- Esta región produce minerales preciosos.This region produces precious minerals.This sentence uses preciosos to describe the value of minerals.Tatoeba #1586383 by teskmon, translation #409167 by Scott
- Esta joya es muy valiosa.This jewel is very precious.
- El tiempo es un recurso valioso.Time is a precious resource.
- ¡Qué preciosa sonrisa tienes!What a precious smile you have!
- Tu recuerdo es muy precioso para mí.Your memory is very precious to me.
- Mis queridos hijos, sois lo más preciado para mí.My precious children, you are the most cherished thing to me.
- Esta es una foto querida para mí.This is a precious photo to me.
- Esta canción es hermosa y preciosa.This song is beautiful and precious.
- Qué hermoso regalo me has dado.What a precious gift you have given me.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are looking at an antique gold watch.
- MaríaMira este reloj, es un objeto precioso.Look at this watch, it is a precious object.
- MateoTienes razón, María. Se ve muy antiguo.You are right, María. It looks very old.
- MaríaEs un metal precioso y muy raro.It is a precious and very rare metal.
- MateoSeguro que cuesta mucho dinero, Mateo.I am sure it costs a lot of money, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “precious” translations and entries precioso, preciado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries preciado, precioso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
