gasto
“gasto” means “expense” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
expense, spending
Also: expenditure, outlay
📝 In Action
Tengo un gasto extra este mes porque se rompió mi móvil.
A2I have an extra expense this month because my phone broke.
Debemos reducir los gastos de la empresa para ahorrar dinero.
B1We must reduce the company's expenses to save money.
El gasto público en educación ha aumentado este año.
B2Public spending on education has increased this year.
I spend, I use up
Also: I wear out
📝 In Action
Yo gasto mucho dinero en libros cada mes.
A1I spend a lot of money on books every month.
Gasto mucha energía cuando voy al gimnasio.
A2I use up a lot of energy when I go to the gym.
Siempre gasto los zapatos muy rápido porque camino mucho.
B1I always wear out my shoes very quickly because I walk a lot.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gasto
Question 1 of 3
Which of these means a 'small, daily expense'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the verb 'gastar', which comes from the Latin 'vastare' (to empty or lay waste), later influenced by Germanic words for 'consuming'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'gasto' be used for time?
Yes! While 'pasar tiempo' is more common for just spending time, 'gastar tiempo' is used when you feel like you are using up or even wasting time.
What is the difference between 'gasto' and 'expensas'?
'Gasto' is a general expense. 'Expensas' is usually used in Latin America specifically for building maintenance fees or apartment dues.
Is 'gasto' always a bad thing?
Not necessarily, but it usually implies a reduction in resources. If you want to sound more positive about money spent for a future benefit, you might use 'inversión' (investment).