barata

bah-RAH-tah

AdjectivefA1

cheap?low price,inexpensive?affordable

Also:low-cost?cost effective

📝 In Action

Esta bicicleta fue muy barata, una ganga.

This bicycle was very cheap, a bargain.

Necesito una solución barata para el problema de la humedad.

I need an inexpensive solution for the humidity problem.

Word Connections

Synonyms

económica (economical)
asequible (affordable)

Antonyms

cara (expensive)

Common Collocations

vida barata – cheap life (low cost of living)

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'barata' is an adjective, it must match the feminine noun it describes, like 'casa barata' (cheap house) or 'ropa barata' (cheap clothes).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong gender

Mistake: "Compré un carro barata."

Correction: Compré un carro barato. (Since 'carro' is masculine, the adjective must be 'barato'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Gender Pairing

Always check the word you are describing: if it ends in -a or uses 'la' or 'una' (usually feminine), use 'barata'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: barata

Question 1 of 2

If you are in Puerto Rico and your friend shouts, '¡Una barata!', what is she seeing?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

barato(cheap (masculine)) - adjective

baratura(cheapness) - noun

abaratar(to lower the price) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'barata' have two completely different meanings?

This is a case of homonymy. The meaning related to price (cheap) comes from the adjective 'barato.' The meaning 'cockroach' is a regional word used in the Caribbean that sounds the same but has a completely different origin and usage.

Is 'barata' always feminine?

Yes. As an adjective, it is the feminine form describing feminine nouns (e.g., 'la casa barata'). As a noun (both 'sale' and 'cockroach'), it is also a feminine word (e.g., 'una barata').