Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| gastar | /ɡasˈtaɾ/ |
| despender | /despenˈdeɾ/ |
| expender | /eɡspenˈdeɾ/ |
| erogar | /eɾoˈɡaɾ/ |
The primary way to express paying out money or resources is through gastar. This verb is also used when describing the act of wearing out or using up physical objects, such as clothes or batteries. Additionally, the phrase darse el gusto is used to mean "to indulge in" when someone is spending money on something they desire.
Which one should you use?
While gastar is the standard term for spending money or using up resources, it is not used for time. To say "to spend time," you should use the verb pasar. Additionally, the form Gastarse is an informal variation of gastar.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word erogar is used in highly formal or legal contexts, specifically when referring to the disbursement of funds or resources. For everyday or informal situations, you might use the variation Gastarse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡasˈtaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying gastar tiempo to mean "spending time" in a positive sense (like enjoying or passing time). In Spanish, this phrasing implies that you are wasting time. Use pasar instead.
Did you know?
- The word gastar shares a deep historical root with the English word 'waste'. Both derive from a term meaning to lay waste to something or to empty it out.
- The phrase darse el gusto literally means 'to give oneself the taste', treating a financial spend as a sensory experience.
- Adding the reflexive pronoun to create gastarse often implies that the person is spending their own money specifically, rather than spending money belonging to a company or another person.
Examples in context
- No quiero gastar dinero.I don't want to spend money.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire not to spend money with gastar.Tatoeba #13736046 by ecorralest101, translation #13736042 by Babelball
- Quiero gastar mucho menos.I want to spend a lot less.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to spend much less with gastar.Tatoeba #5963801 by arh, translation #10334965 by mollydot
- Tom no debería gastar tanto.Tom shouldn't spend so much.This sentence is useful for giving advice that someone shouldn't spend so much with gastar.Tatoeba #5290074 by baudelaire, translation #5290401 by kanbutsu
- Necesito gastar dinero en esta inversiónI need to spend money on this investment.
- Gastamos mucho en el nuevo proyectoWe spent a lot on the new project.
- Vamos a echar la casa por la ventana en mi cumpleañosWe are going to splurge on my birthday
- Me gasté todo mi dinero en ropa nuevaI spent all my money on new clothes
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are shopping for a new television.
- ElenaEsta tele es muy cara, no quiero gastar tanto.This TV is very expensive, I don't want to spend so much.
- MateoTienes razón, busquemos una más barata.You're right, let's look for a cheaper one.
- Elena¿Cuánto piensas gastar en total, Mateo?How much are you planning to spend in total, Mateo?
- MateoNo más de trescientos euros.No more than three hundred euros.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spend” translations and entries gastar, despender, expender, erogar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries despender, erogar, expender, gastar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
