How to Say "reasonable" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “reasonable” is “razonable” — use this word when referring to a price, cost, or amount that is fair or not too high.
razonable
rah-thoh-NAH-bleh (Spain) / rah-soh-NAH-bleh (L. Am.)raθoˈnaβle
Examples
Ese restaurante tiene precios muy razonables.
That restaurant has very reasonable prices (affordable).
Queremos comprar un coche a un costo razonable.
We want to buy a car at an affordable cost.
sensato
sen-SAH-tohsenˈsato
Examples
Juan es un chico muy sensato para su edad.
Juan is a very sensible boy for his age.
Me parece una decisión sensata no gastar todo el dinero.
It seems like a sensible decision not to spend all the money.
Lo más sensato sería hablar con ella antes de actuar.
The most reasonable thing would be to talk to her before acting.
Matching the person
This word changes its ending based on who you are talking about. Use 'sensato' for men and 'sensata' for women.
Using 'Ser'
Since being sensible is usually considered a personality trait or a quality of an idea, we almost always use the verb 'ser' (to be) with it.
The 'Sensible' Trap
Mistake: “Using 'sensible' in Spanish when you mean 'sensible' in English.”
Correction: In Spanish, 'sensible' actually means 'sensitive' (emotional). If you want to say someone is 'sensible' (has good judgment), you MUST use 'sensato'.
moderado
mo-deh-RAH-dohmoðeˈɾaðo
Examples
Es importante hacer ejercicio moderado todos los días.
It is important to do moderate exercise every day.
Vivimos en una ciudad con un clima moderado.
We live in a city with a mild climate.
El restaurante ofrece comida de buena calidad a precios moderados.
The restaurant offers good quality food at reasonable prices.
Matching the Noun
Since this is an adjective, you must change the ending to 'moderada' if the thing you are describing is feminine, like 'una temperatura moderada'.
Where to put it
In most cases, put 'moderado' after the noun it describes (e.g., 'viento moderado') to sound most natural.
Don't confuse with 'Moderno'
Mistake: “Un estilo moderno de ejercicio.”
Correction: Un estilo moderado de ejercicio (if you mean not intense). 'Moderno' means modern/new, while 'moderado' means balanced/middle-ground.
civilizado
see-bee-lee-SAH-dohsiβiliˈθaðo
Examples
Por favor, tened una charla civilizada.
Please, have a civilized/polite chat.
Se comportó como un hombre civilizado a pesar del enfado.
He behaved like a civilized man despite the anger.
Es difícil ser civilizado cuando alguien es tan grosero.
It is hard to be polite when someone is so rude.
Describing Actions
Even though it's a descriptive word (adjective), you can use it after 'parecer' (to seem) to describe how someone is acting in a specific moment.
Don't forget the 'd'
Mistake: “Saying 'civilizao' instead of 'civilizado'.”
Correction: In casual speech, some people drop the 'd', but in writing and clear speech, you should always include it.
Reasonable Price vs. Reasonable Behavior
Related Translations
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