Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Expensive" in Spanish
Caro · adjective · KAH-roh
Caro is the everyday Spanish word for "expensive." It is a regular adjective that changes for gender and number and is used across all Spanish-speaking countries to talk about prices, goods, and services.
KAH-roh (two syllables, stress on the first)
Ese restaurante es demasiado caro para mi presupuesto.
That restaurant is too expensive for my budget.
Expensive in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for expensive, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| caro | expensive | KAH-roh | Default, widely understood |
| costoso | expensive | formal or written contexts | |
| carísimo | expensive | superlative, very expensive |
How Native Speakers Use Caro
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Shopping
Estas zapatillas son muy caras; busquemos algo más barato.
These sneakers are very expensive; let's look for something cheaper.
Caras agrees with the feminine plural noun zapatillas. Note barato as the antonym.
Comparing prices
El vuelo directo es más caro que el que tiene escala.
The direct flight is more expensive than the one with a layover.
Más caro que is the standard comparative form.
Superlative
Es el hotel más caro de toda la ciudad.
It's the most expensive hotel in the entire city.
El más caro de is the superlative construction.
Figurative use
Ese error le salió muy caro.
That mistake cost him dearly.
Salir caro is an idiom meaning 'to cost someone dearly' or 'to come at a high price,' often used figuratively.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Caro
Using caro as an adverb without adjustment
Incorrect: Aquí todo se vende caro.
Correct: Aquí todo se vende a un precio alto. / Aquí todo es caro.
While 'vender caro' is heard colloquially and accepted in some registers, learners should be aware that caro is primarily an adjective. The adverbial use is informal.
Confusing caro with querido
Incorrect: Mi caro amigo, ¿cómo estás?
Correct: Mi querido amigo, ¿cómo estás?
In Spanish, caro means 'expensive,' not 'dear' (as in a term of endearment). Use querido for 'dear friend.' The Italian cognate caro does mean 'dear,' which causes this mix-up.
Lock in Expensive Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Caro used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using caro in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Ese restaurante es demasiado caro para mi presupuesto. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Expensive in Spanish
- What is the opposite of "caro" in Spanish?
- The opposite is barato (cheap/inexpensive). You can also say económico for a more neutral or polite alternative, similar to English 'affordable.'
- How do you say "very expensive" in Spanish?
- You can say muy caro or use the superlative form carísimo/carísima. Carísimo is emphatic and common in spoken Spanish: ¡Este bolso es carísimo!
- Does "caro" ever mean "dear" like in English?
- In modern everyday Spanish, caro almost exclusively means 'expensive.' While caro can technically mean 'dear' or 'beloved' in very formal or literary Spanish, querido is the standard word for that meaning.