¿cuánto cuesta?
/ˈkwanto ˈkwesta/word by word
The English phrase 'what is the price?' is expressed in Spanish as ¿cuánto cuesta?
This phrase is used to ask how much money is needed to purchase something. If you want to know the total amount after all additions, you can use ¿Cuál es el precio final? to ask 'What is the final price?'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ¿cuánto cuesta? literally translates to 'how much does it cost?'
Which one should you use?
While ¿cuánto cuesta? focuses on the cost of an item, ¿cuánto es? is more commonly used when asking for a total bill or a sum of money.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase ¿A cuánto está? is used to mean 'At what price is it?'
How does it change in a sentence?
You can specify the object you are pointing to by adding esto (this) or eso (that) after the verb, as in ¿cuánto cuesta esto?
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkwanto ˈkwesta/
Did you know?
- The verb cuesta comes from the Latin word for 'rib', which is why it is related to the word for 'coast' or 'side' in many languages.
- Spanish uses the word costar not only for money but also to describe something that is emotionally or physically difficult.
- While ¿cuánto cuesta? is standard, in some Latin American countries, people use ¿a cuánto? as a shorthand in casual street markets.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are shopping at a market.
- LucíaMira este sombrero, Javier. ¿Cuánto cuesta?Look at this hat, Javier. How much does it cost?
- JavierNo lo sé, tenemos que preguntar.I don't know, we have to ask.
- LucíaPerdón, ¿cuánto cuesta el sombrero?Excuse me, how much is the hat?
- JavierCuesta diez euros.It costs ten euros.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cuánto, cuesta) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuesta, cuánto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
