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Estar sin blanca

/es-TAR seen BLAN-kah/

To be broke; to have no money at all.

Level:B2Register:InformalCommon:★★★★☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:
"To be without white"
What It Really Means:
To be broke; to have no money at all.
English Equivalents:
To be brokeTo be pennilessTo be flat brokeNot to have a dime to one's name

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal
A literal, humorous depiction of 'estar sin blanca', showing a person looking sadly at a world where the color white is missing.

Literally, the phrase means 'to be without white'.

✨ Figurative
The actual meaning of 'estar sin blanca', showing a person with empty pockets, indicating they have no money.

In reality, it means to be completely broke and have no money.

Key Words in This Idiom:

estar
estar
to be
→
sin
sin
without
→
blanca

📝 In Action

No puedo ir al cine esta noche, lo siento, estoy sin blanca.

B2

I can't go to the movies tonight, sorry, I'm broke.

Después de pagar el alquiler y las facturas, siempre me quedo sin blanca a fin de mes.

B2

After paying rent and bills, I'm always penniless at the end of the month.

📜 Origin Story

This expression comes from old Spanish history. The 'blanca' was a real coin used centuries ago, starting around the 14th century. It was made from a mix of silver and copper and had a whitish color, hence its name. Crucially, it was worth very, very little. So, to say you didn't even have a single 'blanca' was the ultimate way of saying you were completely and utterly out of money.

⭐ Usage Tips

For When Your Wallet is Empty

Use 'estar sin blanca' in informal conversations to say you have absolutely no money. It's perfect for explaining why you can't go out, buy something, or lend a friend a few euros. It has a slightly dramatic, but very common, feel to it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

It's Always 'Blanca'

Mistake: "Saying 'estoy sin blanco' if you are a man."

Correction: The idiom is fixed. 'Blanca' refers to the old coin ('la moneda blanca'), which is a feminine noun. The phrase never changes, regardless of who is speaking. It's always 'estar sin blanca'.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common. This is a classic, everyday idiom that virtually every Spaniard knows and uses.

🌎

Latin America

Much less common. While some people might understand it due to movies or books from Spain, most countries have their own preferred slang for being broke, such as 'estar sin un peso' (Mexico), 'no tener un mango' (Argentina), or 'estar misio' (Peru).

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

No tener ni un duro

To not even have a 'duro' (another old Spanish coin).

Estar a dos velas

Literally 'to be at two candles,' this also means to be broke.

⇆Opposite Meanings

Estar forrado→

To be loaded with money (literally 'to be lined').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Estar sin blanca

Question 1 of 1

If your friend says, 'Quería comprarme ese libro, pero estoy sin blanca,' what do they mean?

🏷️ Tags

Money & WealthCommonly UsedSpain

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'estar sin blanca' a formal or informal expression?

It is definitely informal. You would use it with friends, family, or people you know well. In a formal business context, you would choose a more direct phrase like 'No tengo fondos' (I don't have funds) or 'No tengo presupuesto' (I don't have a budget).