Inklingo

How to Say "savings" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ahorro

ah-OH-rrohaˈo.ro

nounA2general
Use 'ahorro' when referring to money that you have put aside, typically in a bank or for a specific future goal.
A pink ceramic piggy bank with a single gold coin hovering over the slot.

Examples

He puesto todo mi ahorro en una cuenta del banco.

I have put all my savings into a bank account.

Para comprar una casa, necesitas tener un buen ahorro previo.

To buy a house, you need to have a good amount of savings beforehand.

Ese descuento supuso un ahorro de cincuenta euros.

That discount meant a saving of fifty euros.

Singular vs. Plural

You can use 'ahorro' (singular) or 'ahorros' (plural) to talk about your saved money. 'Ahorros' is much more common when referring to your total bank balance or money you've kept over a long time.

Connecting with 'de'

When you want to say what you are saving, just add 'de' followed by the item: 'ahorro de dinero' (saving of money).

Saving a person vs. Saving money

Mistake:Using 'salvación' for money.

Correction: Use 'ahorro' for money or resources. Use 'salvación' only for rescuing someone from danger.

fondos

FOHN-dohsˈfondos

nounA2general
Use 'fondos' when talking about money that has been gathered or is being raised for a specific purpose or project.
A clear glass jar filled to the brim with shiny gold coins, sitting on a plain surface, representing savings or funds.

Examples

Necesitamos recaudar fondos para el viaje escolar.

We need to raise funds for the school trip.

El banco aprobó los fondos para la nueva casa.

The bank approved the funds for the new house.

No tenemos fondos suficientes para pagar esto.

We don't have enough money to pay for this.

Always Plural for Money

When talking about money or financial resources, 'fondos' is always used in its plural form, even if you are referring to the general concept of money.

Using the Singular

Mistake:Necesito fondo para el proyecto.

Correction: Necesito fondos para el proyecto. (The singular 'fondo' usually means 'bottom' or 'background', not 'money'.)

economía

nounB2general
Use 'economía' (often plural, 'las economías') to describe the act of saving money by being thrifty or by making smart financial choices.

Examples

Hizo una gran economía al comprar la ropa de segunda mano.

She made a great saving/showed great thrift by buying the second-hand clothes.

Ahorro vs. Economía

Learners often confuse 'ahorro' and 'economía'. Remember that 'ahorro' is the money saved, while 'economía' is the act of saving money through careful spending or thrift.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.