riqueza
“riqueza” means “wealth” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
wealth, riches
Also: fortune
📝 In Action
La familia construyó su riqueza a través de la inversión inmobiliaria.
B1The family built their wealth through real estate investment.
No todo es la riqueza material; la felicidad es más importante.
B1It's not all about material riches; happiness is more important.
El país tiene una gran riqueza en recursos naturales.
A2The country has great wealth in natural resources.
richness, abundance
Also: diversity
📝 In Action
La riqueza cultural de México es impresionante.
B2The cultural richness of Mexico is impressive.
Me encanta la riqueza de sabor de este café colombiano.
C1I love the richness of flavor in this Colombian coffee.
El bosque tropical es conocido por su riqueza biológica.
B2The tropical forest is known for its biological abundance (diversity).
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: riqueza
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'riqueza' to mean 'abundance of quality' rather than 'money'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish word 'rico' (rich), which itself has Germanic roots, likely related to words meaning 'ruler' or 'powerful.' It has described the state of having power and possessions since the Middle Ages.
First recorded: Around the 11th or 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'riqueza' only used for money?
No. While its main meaning is financial wealth, it is very commonly used to talk about the depth, quality, or abundance of non-material things like culture, vocabulary, biodiversity, or flavor.
How do I say 'rich person'?
You would use the adjective 'rico/a' as a noun: 'un rico' (a rich man) or 'una rica' (a rich woman).

