gasto
Lemma Details
Translation: expense; expenditure; cost; spending
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from the verb 'gastar' (to spend), which comes from Latin 'vastare' meaning 'to waste or destroy'. The Latin term evolved in Vulgar Latin to mean 'to use up or consume'. This shares roots with English words like 'vast' and 'waste', reflecting the concept of using up resources. The semantic shift from destruction to expenditure illustrates how spending was conceptualized as a depletion of resources.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Los gastos de la empresa aumentaron este mes.
The company's expenses increased this month.
No puedo cubrir todos estos gastos con mi salario actual.
I can't cover all these expenses with my current salary.
Dividimos los gastos del viaje entre todos.
We split the travel expenses among everyone.
El gasto en educación es una inversión para el futuro.
Spending on education is an investment for the future.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'gasto' as what makes your money go 'fast-o'.
- Associate with 'gastric' in English - both involve consumption (one of food, one of money).
- Remember that 'gasto' sounds like 'gusto' - sometimes we spend with too much enthusiasm!
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, discussions about 'gastos' are common in both personal and business contexts. In many Latin American countries, there's a cultural emphasis on tracking 'gastos' carefully, especially in business settings where detailed accounting of expenses is required for tax purposes.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Gasto' means 'expense' while 'gusto' means 'taste' or 'pleasure'.
Notes: These words sound similar but have completely different meanings and uses in everyday conversation.
Mnemonic: 'Gasto' has an 'a' like 'pay', while 'gusto' has a 'u' like 'you enjoy'.
Explanation: 'Gasto' refers to 'expense' while 'gesto' means 'gesture' or 'facial expression'.
Confused word:
Hizo un gesto de aprobación con la cabeza.
He made a gesture of approval with his head.
Notes: Only one letter different but completely different meanings.
Mnemonic: 'Gasto' has 'ast' like 'cost', while 'gesto' has 'est' like 'gesture'.