rico
everyday
In Mexican Spanish a rich person is rico (feminine rica). The more formal word is adinerado, and ricachón is a mocking way to say a very rich person.
Meaning: having a lot of money (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| rico | everyday |
| adinerado | formal |
| ricachón | mocking |
Watch the double meaning. Rico for food means tasty, so está rico is a compliment to the cook. For a person, ser rico and estar rico mean different things, so the verb matters.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying está rico about a person does not mean he is wealthy. It is slang for good looking, so use es rico to talk about money.
Did you know?
- The same word rico can describe a wealthy man, a tasty dish or a good moment, so context decides the meaning.
Examples in context
- Su tío es muy rico y vive en Monterrey.His uncle is very rich and lives in Monterrey.
- Es una familia adinerada.It is a wealthy family.
Example conversation
Friends Raúl and Tere comment on a big house in Mexico City.
- RaúlMira esa casa, qué grande.Look at that house, how big.
- TereSeguro vive gente muy rica ahí.Surely very rich people live there.
- RaúlSí, son dueños de una cadena de tiendas.Yes, they own a chain of stores.
