ahorrar
/aoˈraɾ/
To save up in Spanish is to ahorrar.
The verb ahorrar is used to describe the act of accumulating money for a specific purpose. You can also use it in the context of saving resources, such as saving time or energy. For example, ahorrar dinero means to save up money and ahorrar recursos means to save up resources.
Meaning: accumulate money for a specific purpose (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, you may hear the colloquial expression ahorrar plata to mean saving up money.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of ahorrar is ahorrado (saved). If you want to say "I will save up" in the first-person singular future indicative, use ahorraré. Additionally, if you are referring to the money that has been saved, the noun form is ahorros (savings). While ahorrar is the standard way to say save up, the expression guardar dinero can also be used to mean to set aside money.
How do you pronounce it?
/aoˈraɾ/
Did you know?
- The word ahorrar is an etymological survivor from Arabic. It traces back to the word ḥurr, which meant 'free' or 'noble'.
- The colloquial phrase ahorrar plata uses a word that literally means 'silver'. This reflects a historical time when silver coins were the primary currency in many Spanish colonies.
- In Spanish, you cannot use ahorrar to rescue someone from a fire or a drowning accident. To express the idea of 'saving' a person, you must use the verb salvar.
Examples in context
- Como estoy desempleado no puedo ahorrar.Since I'm unemployed, I can't save up anything.This sentence shows how to use ahorrar in a negative context regarding unemployment.Tatoeba #4553912 by swyter, translation #4543326 by mailohilohi
- Necesito ahorrar dinero para comprar un coche nuevoI need to save up money to buy a new car
- Voy a guardar dinero para mis vacacionesI am going to save up money for my vacation
- Debemos economizar para las emergenciasWe must save up for emergencies
- Estoy ahorrando plata para comprar un nuevo teléfonoI'm saving up money to buy a new phone
- Necesito ahorrar para un coche nuevo.I need to save up for a new car.
- Quiero ahorrar para un coche nuevo.I want to save up for a new car.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking about their summer vacation plans.
- ElenaVoy a ahorrar para ir a Japón.I am going to save up to go to Japan.
- MateoEs un viaje caro, pero vale la pena.It is an expensive trip, but it is worth it.
- ElenaSí, por eso necesito ahorrar mucho ahora.Yes, that is why I need to save up a lot now.
- MateoYo también quiero ahorrar contigo, Elena.I want to save up with you too, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “save up” translations and entries ahorrar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahorrar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
