costoso
“costoso” means “expensive” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
expensive
Also: costly, valuable
📝 In Action
Ese reloj es muy costoso.
A1That watch is very expensive.
Vivir en el centro de la ciudad es muy costoso.
A2Living in the city center is very costly.
Mantener un coche deportivo puede ser sumamente costoso.
B1Maintaining a sports car can be extremely expensive.
difficult
Also: laborious, arduous
📝 In Action
Fue un proceso costoso y largo.
B1It was a difficult and long process.
Aprender un nuevo idioma es un camino costoso pero gratificante.
B2Learning a new language is a difficult but rewarding path.
La recuperación después de la cirugía fue lenta y costosa.
C1The recovery after the surgery was slow and arduous.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: costoso
Question 1 of 3
Which word is the best synonym for 'costoso' when talking about a high price?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'costosus,' which comes from 'constare' (to stand at a price). It shares a root with the English word 'cost.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'costoso' more formal than 'caro'?
Yes, 'costoso' is slightly more formal and is often used in writing, news, or professional contexts, whereas 'caro' is the go-to word for everyday conversation.
Can I use 'costoso' to describe a person?
Not usually. If you want to say someone is 'expensive' (meaning they have expensive taste), you might say 'tiene gustos caros'. Using 'costoso' for a person sounds unnatural.
Does 'costoso' always mean money?
No! It can also mean that something requires a lot of effort, work, or time, similar to the English word 'laborious'.