Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Price in Spanish: Precio
Precio · noun · PREH-syoh
"Precio" is the standard Spanish translation for price, referring to the amount of money charged for a product or service. It is a masculine noun used in everyday shopping, business, and economic contexts alike.
PREH-syoh
¿Cuál es el precio de esta camisa?
What is the price of this shirt?
Price in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for price, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| precio | price | PREH-syoh | Default, widely understood |
| costo | price | cost, Latin America | |
| coste | price | cost, Spain | |
| valor | price | value or worth |
How Native Speakers Use Precio
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Shopping
El precio de las frutas subió esta semana.
The price of fruit went up this week.
Precio is the go-to word when discussing how much something costs at a store or market.
Negotiating
¿Me puede dar un mejor precio por estos dos?
Can you give me a better price for these two?
When bargaining at markets or flea markets, asking about el precio is natural and expected.
Figurative use
La libertad tiene un precio muy alto.
Freedom has a very high price.
Precio can be used figuratively to express the sacrifice or consequence of something.
Online shopping
Compara precios antes de comprar en línea.
Compare prices before buying online.
The plural precios is common when talking about price comparisons across stores or websites.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Precio
Using precio and costo interchangeably
Incorrect: El precio de producción fue muy elevado.
Correct: El costo de producción fue muy elevado.
"Precio" refers specifically to what a buyer pays at the point of sale, while "costo" (or "coste" in Spain) refers to the expense incurred in making or obtaining something. Production has a cost, not a price.
Wrong gender article
Incorrect: La precio es demasiado alta.
Correct: El precio es demasiado alto.
"Precio" is masculine, so it takes "el" and masculine adjectives like "alto," not "la" and "alta."
Lock in Price 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 Precio used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using precio in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Cuál es el precio de esta camisa? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Price in Spanish
- How do I ask how much something costs in Spanish?
- The most common phrase is "¿Cuánto cuesta?" for a single item or "¿Cuánto cuestan?" for multiple items. You can also say "¿Cuál es el precio?" for a more formal approach.
- What is the difference between precio, costo, and valor?
- "Precio" is the amount a seller charges. "Costo" (or "coste" in Spain) is the expense of producing or acquiring something. "Valor" refers to the intrinsic worth or value, which may differ from the price.
- How do I say priceless in Spanish?
- "Priceless" translates to "invaluable" or "que no tiene precio." For example, "Esa experiencia fue invaluable" means "That experience was priceless."