How to Say "pittance" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “pittance” is “miseria” — use 'miseria' when referring to a generally meager or insufficient amount of money, often in a formal or neutral context, emphasizing the inadequacy of the sum..
English → Spanish
miseria
mee-SEH-ryah/miˈse.rja/
nounC1
Use 'miseria' when referring to a generally meager or insufficient amount of money, often in a formal or neutral context, emphasizing the inadequacy of the sum.
Examples
Le pagaron una miseria por el trabajo de todo el mes.
They paid him a pittance for a whole month's work.
Solo había una miseria de pan en la nevera.
There was only a tiny bit of bread (a trifle) in the fridge.
perra
/PEH-rrah//'pera/
nounC2colloquial
Use 'perra' (figuratively) when you want to express a very small, insignificant amount of money in a colloquial and often slightly indignant way, similar to 'peanuts' or 'a pittance' in informal English.
Examples
Después de tanto trabajar, me pagaron cuatro perras.
After all that work, they paid me peanuts (four pennies).
No tengo ni una perra para comprar el pan.
I don't have a single dime to buy bread.
Choosing Between 'Miseria' and 'Perra'
Learners often confuse 'miseria' and 'perra' by using the more formal 'miseria' in very informal situations. Remember that 'perra' is much more colloquial and should be used when talking with friends or expressing strong dissatisfaction with a small sum.
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