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economía

eh-koh-noh-MEE-aheko.noˈmi.a

economy

Also: financial system
NounfB1
A simplified storybook illustration of a world map showing interconnected buildings representing global finance and trade.

📝 In Action

La economía mundial se recupera lentamente después de la crisis.

B1

The world economy is recovering slowly after the crisis.

Estudiamos la economía de un país en desarrollo.

B1

We are studying the economy of a developing country.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • economía de mercado – market economy
  • crisis económica – economic crisis
  • ministro de economía – minister of finance/economy

thrift, savings

Also: frugality
NounfB2
A storybook illustration showing a hand dropping a coin into a piggy bank, representing thrift and careful saving.

📝 In Action

Hizo una gran economía al comprar la ropa de segunda mano.

B2

She made a great saving/showed great thrift by buying the second-hand clothes.

Debemos practicar la economía en el uso del agua.

B2

We must practice careful management in our water usage.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ahorro (saving)
  • moderación (moderation)

Antonyms

  • derroche (waste)
  • gasto (expense)

Common Collocations

  • hacer economía – to make a saving
  • sentido de la economía – sense of thrift

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "economía" in Spanish:

economy→financial system→frugality→thrift→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: economía

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'economía' in the sense of 'thrift' or 'saving resources'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
económico/a(economic; cheap (adjective)) — Adjective
economista(economist) — Noun
economizar(to economize; to save) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Ancient Greek *oikonomía*, which was formed by combining *oîkos* (meaning 'house' or 'home') and *nómos* (meaning 'law' or 'management'). The original meaning was literally 'household management' or 'running a home carefully,' which explains both the modern meanings of large financial systems and personal thrift.

First recorded: 15th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

English: economyFrench: économieItalian: economia

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'economía' ever mean 'cheap'?

No, 'economía' is the noun (the system or the act of saving). If you want to say something is 'cheap' or 'inexpensive,' you must use the adjective 'económico' (or 'barato').

How is 'economía' different from 'ahorro'?

'Economía' can mean the general habit of being careful with money (thrift), while 'ahorro' specifically refers to the money saved or the action of saving money. They are closely related, but 'ahorro' is more specific to the act of setting funds aside.