caras
“caras” means “faces” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
faces
Also: sides, heads
📝 In Action
Las niñas tienen caras muy felices.
A1The girls have very happy faces.
Tiramos la moneda para ver qué sale, ¿caras o cruces?
A2We toss the coin to see what comes up, heads or tails?
Me gusta ver las caras de la gente cuando reciben regalos.
A2I like seeing people's faces when they receive gifts.
expensive
Also: costly
📝 In Action
Estas joyas son demasiado caras para mí.
A1These jewels are too expensive for me.
Las entradas para el concierto estaban muy caras.
A2The tickets for the concert were very expensive.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: caras
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'caras' as an adjective (describing how costly something is)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *cara*, meaning 'face' or 'mask.' The sense of 'expensive' developed later in Romance languages, likely from the idea of something being 'dear' or 'precious' (and therefore costly).
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 'caras' and 'caro' related?
Yes! 'Caras' is the feminine plural form of the adjective 'caro' (meaning expensive). It is also the plural of the noun 'cara' (face). They share the same root, which is why they look the same.
How do I know if 'caras' means 'faces' or 'expensive'?
Look at the sentence structure. If it is used directly after 'las' and is the main thing being discussed, it usually means 'faces' (Las caras son redondas). If it follows a form of the verb 'ser' or 'estar' and describes a feminine plural noun, it means 'expensive' (Las joyas son caras).