Spanish Conversation · Level 53
75 words
Spanish word
costar
Pronunciation
IPA/kosˈtaɾ/
Meaning
- verbbe expensive, cost
Example
Esa casa cuesta mucho.
That house is very expensive.
More examples
El viaje nos costó una fortuna.
The trip cost us a fortune.
Core concept
A product price tag showing a high price.
Common phrases
costar una fortuna
cost a fortune
costar mucho
cost a lot
costar demasiado
cost too much
Similar words
valer: Has monetary worth that determines its price.
salir: Leads to paying a larger total.
pagar: Gives money to obtain something or settle a debt.
Definition in Spanish
Ser necesario pagar una cantidad importante de dinero para comprar o mantener algo.
Word origin
From Latin constare (com- 'together' + stare 'stand'), which in Romance develops a sense 'to have a price' and enters Spanish as costar.
Usage tips
- Costar commonly appears in third-person forms with an indirect object to mark who pays (e.g., 'Me cuesta 50 euros'), and it indicates the amount to be paid while valer more often indicates worth.