subasta

soo-BAH-sta/suˈβasta/

“subasta” means “auction” in Spanish (public sale).

auction

Also: public sale, bidding

NounfB1

Mexico / Central America

A simplified illustration of an auctioneer wearing a vest standing behind a wooden podium, holding a wooden gavel raised high, ready to strike. A single hand is raised in the foreground, indicating a bid.

📝 In Action

Mi abuela vendió su colección de sellos en una subasta.

My grandmother sold her stamp collection at an auction.

La subasta de arte moderno atrajo a coleccionistas de todo el mundo.

The modern art auction attracted collectors from all over the world.

Ganamos la casa en la subasta, pero tuvimos que pujar mucho.

We won the house at the auction, but we had to bid a lot.

Word Connections

Synonyms

remate (auction (often used regionally))
puja (bid/bidding (the act of offering a price))

Common Collocations

ganar la subasta – to win the auction
subasta benéfica – charity auction
subasta pública – public auction

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "subasta" in Spanish:

auction→bidding→public sale→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: subasta

Question 1 of 2

If you want to sell an old painting to the highest bidder, you would put it in a:

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

subastar(to auction) — Verb

subastador(a)(auctioneer) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

bastacasta

📚 Etymology▼

This word has a fascinating historical origin! It comes from the Latin phrase *sub hasta*, which literally means 'under the spear'. In ancient Rome, captured goods or war spoils were often sold publicly, symbolized by a spear planted in the ground.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: subastaItalian: asta

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'subasta' y 'puja'?

Una 'subasta' es el evento completo (the auction). Una 'puja' es cada oferta individual de dinero que hace una persona durante ese evento (a single bid). The verb for 'to bid' is 'pujar'.

How do I say 'auctioneer' in Spanish?

The person who runs the auction is called the 'subastador' (if male) or 'subastadora' (if female).