gastar
“gastar” means “to spend” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to spend
Also: to pay out
📝 In Action
¿Cuánto gastaste en el supermercado?
A1How much did you spend at the supermarket?
No me gusta gastar mucho dinero en ropa.
A2I don't like spending a lot of money on clothes.
to use up, to waste
Also: to consume
📝 In Action
No gastes la batería del móvil mirando videos.
B1Don't use up the phone battery watching videos.
Gastamos mucha energía en calentar la casa.
B1We use a lot of energy heating the house.
Es una pena gastar tanto tiempo esperando.
B2It's a shame to waste so much time waiting.
to wear out, to become worn
Also: to run down
📝 In Action
Mis zapatos favoritos ya se gastaron.
B2My favorite shoes are already worn out.
La batería de mi portátil se gasta muy rápido.
B2My laptop battery runs down very quickly.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gastar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'gastar' in the sense of 'wasting time'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'gastar' comes from the Gothic language, where the root *wastjan* meant 'to clothe' or 'to dress.' Over time, as clothes wore out, the meaning shifted in Spanish to 'wear out,' and later, by extension, to 'use up' and finally 'spend money.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between 'gastar' and 'consumir'?
'Gastar' is generally much broader. While both mean 'consume' (like fuel or electricity), 'gastar' is the required verb for spending money, and it is also used for things wearing out. 'Consumir' is specifically about eating, drinking, or using resources in a consumption sense.
How do I say 'I spent two hours doing homework'?
You should use the verb 'pasar' (to pass/spend time), not 'gastar.' Say: 'Pasé dos horas haciendo la tarea.'