gratuito
/ɡɾatwito/from spelling rules
The English phrase "toll-free" is translated into Spanish as gratuito.
In the context of telephone calls, gratuito describes a service that does not require an additional toll. In business settings, you can use número gratuito to mean "toll-free number".
Meaning: of phone call: without additional toll (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations for toll-free calls include: llamada sin cargo, which is common in Latin American countries such as Mexico and Argentina. llamada sin costo, frequently used in Colombia, Venezuela and Chile. And número verde, which you will encounter in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, gratuito must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. For example, use the feminine form gratuita when referring to a línea (line).
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡɾatwito/
Did you know?
- The word gratuito can sometimes be used as a synonym for 'unjustified' or 'unprovoked'. For example, a insulto gratuito is an insult that happens without any reason or cause.
- In Spain, a toll-free number is called a número verde or 'green number'. This refers to the color coding of telephone services used in several European countries to indicate a specific type of call.
- The word gratuito shares a common ancestor with the English word 'gratitude'. Both stem from the Latin 'gratus', meaning 'pleasing' or 'welcome'.
Examples in context
- ¿Es un número gratuito?Is it a toll-free number?
- El número de atención es gratuito.The customer service number is toll-free.
- Este es un número gratuito para clientes.This is a toll-free number for customers.
Example conversation
Alejandro is asking Lucía for a number to contact a company.
- Alejandro¿Tienes un número para llamar a la empresa?Do you have a number to call the company?
- LucíaSí, es un número gratuito.Yes, it is a toll-free number.
- Alejandro¿Es realmente gratuito?Is it really toll-free?
- LucíaSí, Alejandro, no tiene coste alguno.Yes, Alejandro, it has no cost at all.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gratuito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
