to be cheap

Question

Would 'ser barata' mean 'to be cheap'?

Also, is this translation correct? "For bread and butter, it costs €1,50 ($2.02)! May be I am just being cheap, but I think that is expensive!"--> "¡Para pan y mantequilla, cuesta €1,50 ($2.02)! ¡Quizá estoy siendo barata, pero pienso que es caro!

Thanks in advance! :) - MeEncantanCarasSonrisas, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 1

That doesn't sound very good to my ears!

A woman who considers herself "barata" considers herself... well, cheap! And not necessarily in the scrooge sense of the word, if you catch my drift.

"Barato/a" means inexpensive or cheap if referred to the value of something, yes.

But if you wish to mean something like "miser" or "pennypincher"; then a better word is "pichirre" or "tacaño".

uh-oh!! I 'catch your drift'. Big thanks for the correction-- wouldn't want to turn in my assignment like that :) - MeEncantanCarasSonrisas, Mar 28, 2010

Oh, goody! What a relief! :-) - Gekkosan, Mar 28, 2010

Answer 2

Frugal or ahorrativa are the words you should use. Be careful; only a working girl would say, "Soy barata."

I think your options are very good, but they are more formal. Frugal is the same word in English or Spanish, and ahorrativa is "thrifty".You're not so likely to use those words in a relaxed informal conversation. - Gekkosan, Mar 28, 2010