Inklingo

How to Say "to spend" in Spanish

English → Spanish

gastar

/gahs-TAHR//ɡasˈtaɾ/

verbA1money
Use 'gastar' when you are talking about spending money or resources.
A cartoon hand placing several shiny gold coins into a small, open wallet, illustrating the act of spending money.

Examples

¿Cuánto gastaste en el supermercado?

How much did you spend at the supermarket?

No me gusta gastar mucho dinero en ropa.

I don't like spending a lot of money on clothes.

Direct Object Needed

When using 'gastar' for money, you almost always need to specify what you are spending (dinero, euros, etc.), even if it seems obvious.

Confusing 'Gastar' and 'Pasar'

Mistake: “Quiero gastar tiempo contigo. (I want to spend time with you.)”

Correction: Quiero pasar tiempo contigo. ('Gastar' is for money or resources you use up; 'pasar' is for time spent.)

pasar

/pa-sar//paˈsaɾ/

verbA2time
Use 'pasar' when referring to how time is passed or experienced, such as a vacation or a weekend.
Two cheerful friends building a colorful sandcastle on a sunny beach.

Examples

Me encanta pasar tiempo con mis amigos.

I love spending time with my friends.

Pasamos todo el fin de semana en la playa.

We spent the whole weekend at the beach.

¿Pasaste un buen día?

Did you have a good day?

'Pasar' vs. 'Gastar' for Time

Mistake: “Quiero gastar tiempo contigo.”

Correction: Use 'pasar' for spending time: 'Quiero pasar tiempo contigo.' The verb 'gastar' is for spending money or using up resources, not time.

tomarse

/toh-MAHR-seh//toˈmaɾse/

verbA2time on a task
Use 'tomarse' when indicating the amount of time required or dedicated to completing a specific task or activity.
A person relaxing in a comfortable armchair with their eyes closed.

Examples

Necesito tomarme un descanso.

I need to take a break.

Se tomaron su tiempo para decidir.

They took their time to decide.

Spending Time

When you use 'tomarse' with time, it means you are allowing yourself a certain amount of time for a specific purpose.

Gastar vs. Pasar/Tomarse

The most common mistake is using 'gastar' when referring to time. Remember, 'gastar' is almost exclusively for money or resources. For time, you'll use 'pasar' for general experiences and 'tomarse' for time spent on a specific task.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.