riqueza
/riˈkeθa/feminine
The English word wealth can be translated into Spanish as riqueza or prosperidad.
Meaning: riches, valuable material possessions (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| riqueza | /riˈkeθa/ /riˈkesa/ |
feminine |
| prosperidad | /pɾospeɾiˈdad/ | feminine |
Riqueza refers to riches or valuable material possessions. It can describe both material assets and abstract concepts, such as riqueza cultural (cultural wealth). If you want to describe someone who is rolling in money, you can use the idiom estar forrado/a en dinero or if they are swimming in wealth, you can use nadar en la abundancia.
Which one should you use?
While both words relate to success, riqueza focuses on the accumulation of material assets or riches, whereas prosperidad refers to the state of being successful or flourishing (prosperity).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form riquezas is often used to refer to multiple sources of wealth or to mean 'riches' in a more poetic or descriptive sense.
How do you pronounce it?
/riˈkeθa/
Did you know?
- The word rico means 'rich', but in a culinary context, it describes food that is 'delicious' or 'tasty'.
- The expression estar forrado literally means 'to be lined', as if your clothes have been lined with gold or money to make you wealthy.
- The suffix -eza in riqueza is a linguistic fossil from the Latin suffix -itia, used to turn adjectives into abstract nouns.
Examples in context
- La salud es riqueza.Health is wealth.This sentence is useful for illustrating the abstract use of riqueza.Tatoeba #5250366 by albrusgher, translation #2498649 by Hybrid
- Tom heredó su riqueza.Tom inherited his wealth.This sentence is useful for showing how to describe inheriting riqueza.Tatoeba #5250420 by albrusgher, translation #4495372 by CK
- La riqueza es relativa.Wealth is relative.This sentence is useful for showing how to use riqueza in a general statement.Tatoeba #5250368 by albrusgher, translation #2662467 by Hybrid
- El empresario acumuló una gran riqueza en su vidaThe businessman accumulated great wealth in his life
- El magnate construyó su fortuna a través de inversiones exitosasThe magnate built his fortune through successful investments
- La familia vive en la abundancia gracias a su exitoso negocioThe family lives in abundance thanks to their successful business
- Mi tío tiene mucha plataMy uncle has a lot of money
- Mis padres se esforzaron mucho y ahora tienen mucho dineroMy parents worked hard and now they have a lot of money
- Mi primo siempre anda con billeteMy cousin always carries money
- Su persistencia en los negocios lo llevó a la riquezaHis persistence in business led him to wealth
- ¡Vaya fortuna tienes! Podrías viajar por todo el mundoWhat a fortune you have! You could travel all around the world
- ¡Tienes mucha plata para ser tan joven!You have a lot of money for being so young!
- Después de años de trabajo duro, lograron una abundancia inimaginableAfter years of hard work, they achieved unimaginable abundance
- 48 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are discussing the lifestyle of a billionaire.
- SofíaÉl tiene una riqueza increíble.He has incredible wealth.
- AlejandroSí, pero no parece feliz.Yes, but he doesn't seem happy.
- SofíaLa riqueza no lo es todo.Wealth isn't everything.
- AlejandroEstoy de acuerdo contigo, Sofía.I agree with you, Sofía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wealth” translations and entries riqueza, prosperidad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prosperidad, riqueza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
