Spanish word

subasta

Pronunciation

IPA/suˈβasta/

Meaning

  • feminine nounauction

Example

Fuimos a la subasta para comprar muebles.

We went to the auction to buy furniture.

Illustration for subasta (auction)

More examples

Compré un cuadro en una subasta en línea.

I bought a painting at an online auction.

Core concept

Room of bidders raising numbered paddles as prices climb.

Common phrases

  • comprar en subasta

    buy at auction

  • vender en subasta

    sell at auction

  • subasta en línea

    online auction

Similar words

puja: Individual bid amount offered by a participant during an auction round.
oferta: Price or terms proposed as an offer to buy something in a transaction.
remate: Final procedure that completes the sale of an item at an auction.
venta: Act of transferring goods or services to a buyer in exchange for payment.

Definition in Spanish

Acto público en el que se venden bienes al mejor postor mediante pujas sucesivas.

Word origin

From Latin subhasta (sub- 'under' + hasta 'spear'), the term entered Spanish via the verb subastar and originally named public sales associated with a spear used as a sale marker.

Usage tips

  • Spanish uses pujar for 'to bid' while subastar means 'to auction (off)' and subasta names the event, so bidders are said to pujar at a subasta.

Opposites

  • venta a precio fijofixed-price salenoun
  • venta directadirect salenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word