Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tacaño | /taˈkaɲo/ | |
| mezquino | /meθˈkino/ /mesˈkino/ |
|
| rácano | /ˈrakano/ | |
| agarrado | /aɡaˈrado/ | |
| cicatero | /θikaˈteɾo/ /sikaˈteɾo/ |
|
| roñoso | /roˈɲoso/ | |
| pesetero | /peseˈteɾo/ | Spain |
| amarrete | /amaˈrete/ | Latin America |
| ticuiche | /tikwit͡ʃe/ (from spelling rules) | El Salvador |
| pilinque | /pilinke/ (from spelling rules) | Panama |
| pilinqui | /pilinki/ (from spelling rules) | Panama |
| pilishne | /pilisne/ (from spelling rules) | El Salvador |
These words are used to describe someone who is unwilling to spend or give.
Which one should you use?
While tacaño refers specifically to being stingy with money, mezquino can also mean being morally petty or mean-spirited. Avaro is a strong word that implies a level of greediness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Mezquino is a formal term. Many other options are more informal or colloquial, such as codo, which is an informal term used to describe someone who is stingy or rata, an informal term used to describe someone who is cheap or stingy. Agarrado is a common colloquial way to call someone stingy.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might use pesetero to describe someone who is overly concerned with money or stingy or the informal tacañón or tacañona. In Latin America, amarrete is used, while in Panama, both pilinque and pilinqui are used. In El Salvador, you may hear ticuiche or pilishne.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective tacaño must change to tacaña to agree with a feminine subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/taˈkaɲo/
Did you know?
- The word codo is often accompanied by a gesture of touching one's elbow to emphasize that someone is cheap.
- The word tacaño likely derives from the Hebrew word takaná, which refers to a 'religious ordinance' or 'rule'.
- The word pesetero comes from the 'peseta', which was the national currency of Spain before the euro.
Examples in context
- Él es muy tacaño.He is very stingy with his money.This sentence shows how to describe a man who is very stingy with his money using tacaño.Tatoeba #1435645 by marcelostockle, translation #292056 by CK
- Tom es muy tacaño.Tom is very stingy.This sentence uses tacaño to say that Tom is very stingy.Tatoeba #1235207 by hayastan, translation #1024756 by CK
- ¿Por qué eres tan rácano?Why are you so stingy?This sentence is an example of asking someone why they are being so stingy using rácano.Tatoeba #13871871 by Seael, translation #7113764 by CM
- Mi jefe es muy tacaño.My boss is very stingy.
- Mi vecino es muy avaro, no gasta ni un céntimo.My neighbor is very stingy, he doesn't spend a penny.
- No me invitó al cine, ¡qué codo!He didn't invite me to the movies, how stingy!
- No quiere gastar dinero en nada, es una rata.He doesn't want to spend money on anything, he's a stingy person.
- Mi abuelo es muy agarrado, no gasta en nada.My grandfather is very stingy, he doesn't spend on anything.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are talking about a friend who never pays for anything.
- ElenaJuan nunca paga la cuenta en el restaurante.Juan never pays the bill at the restaurant.
- DanielSí, él es demasiado tacaño.Yes, he is too stingy.
- ElenaNo quiero salir con él otra vez.I don't want to go out with him again.
- DanielYo tampoco, es muy molesto.Me neither, it is very annoying.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stingy” translations and entries tacaño, mezquino, rácano, agarrado, cicatero, roñoso, pesetero, amarrete, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agarrado, mezquino, rácano, tacaño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
