In 15 Seconds
- Refers to high financial cost or significant personal sacrifice.
- Always use 'alto' (high) with 'preço', never 'caro' (expensive).
- Common in business, news, and serious life discussions.
- Used metaphorically to describe the heavy consequences of actions.
Meaning
While literally referring to a high financial cost, this phrase carries a heavy emotional weight. It often describes the significant sacrifice or consequences one must face to achieve a certain goal. It suggests a situation where the trade-off is steep, whether in currency or in personal toll.
Key Examples
3 of 10Shopping for electronics
O novo smartphone tem um `alto preço`, mas a câmera é excelente.
The new smartphone has a high price, but the camera is excellent.
Instagram caption for a luxury hotel
Vista incrível, mas o `alto preço` da diária dói no bolso! 😂
Incredible view, but the high price of the daily rate hurts the wallet!
Reflecting on a career choice
Sucesso rápido muitas vezes vem com um `alto preço` para a vida pessoal.
Quick success often comes with a high price for one's personal life.
Cultural Background
The phrase `alto preço` reflects the Portuguese-speaking world's historical relationship with value and sacrifice. Rooted in a culture that transitioned from the vast riches of the Age of Discovery to periods of economic caution, the language developed precise ways to discuss the 'cost' of ambition. It echoes the Catholic tradition of 'paying' for one's actions, where every significant gain is expected to have a corresponding price.
The Height Rule
In Portuguese, scales of measurement (like price or speed) use 'alto/baixo' (high/low). Never use 'grande/pequeno' for prices!
Don't be Redundant
Avoid saying 'preço caro'. It's like saying 'expensive price' in English, which sounds repetitive and wrong to native ears.
In 15 Seconds
- Refers to high financial cost or significant personal sacrifice.
- Always use 'alto' (high) with 'preço', never 'caro' (expensive).
- Common in business, news, and serious life discussions.
- Used metaphorically to describe the heavy consequences of actions.
What It Means
Imagine standing in front of a sleek, black espresso machine in a fancy Lisbon shop.
You look at the tag and realize it costs more than your first car.
That, my friend, is a classic encounter with an alto preço.
But this phrase isn't just about empty wallets and shiny gadgets.
It is about the weight of decisions and the cost of our choices.
What It Means
At its heart, alto preço simply means "high price."
However, in Portuguese, we use it to describe more than just money.
It carries a vibe of seriousness and sometimes even a bit of warning.
If a car has an alto preço, it is luxury and high-end.
If a mistake has an alto preço, it means you lost something valuable.
It is the difference between a simple cost and a significant investment.
Think of it as the "heavy hitter" of the pricing world.
How To Use It
You use alto preço when you want to emphasize the scale of cost.
Usually, it functions as a noun phrase in a sentence.
You might say something has or carries an alto preço.
Speaker A: "Esse relógio é maravilhoso, não acha?"
Speaker B: "Sim, mas ele tem um alto preço para o meu bolso!"
Note how Speaker B uses it to set a boundary on their budget.
It sounds more sophisticated than just saying something is "too much money."
It is like wearing a suit to a conversation about your bank account.
Real-Life Examples
Let's look at how this pops up in your daily digital life.
You might see a TikTok about a luxury travel destination.
The caption says: "Beleza infinita, mas um alto preço por noite."
Or maybe you are reading a business article on a news app.
The headline reads: "O alto preço do petróleo afeta os mercados."
In a WhatsApp group, a friend might complain about a new iPhone.
"O novo modelo é incrível, mas o alto preço me desanima."
It even works when talking about your health or your time.
"Trabalhar 15 horas por dia tem um alto preço para a saúde."
When To Use It
Use this phrase when the cost is objectively or subjectively significant.
It is perfect for professional settings like job interviews or meetings.
If you are discussing project budgets, alto preço sounds very professional.
It is also great for philosophical moments with your friends.
When discussing life choices, it adds a layer of dramatic weight.
Use it when you want to sound educated and precise about value.
It is the "grown-up" way to talk about being expensive.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use alto preço for small, everyday items like a pack of gum.
Saying a piece of candy has an alto preço sounds like a joke.
Unless that candy is made of gold, stick to caro for small things.
Also, avoid using it when you are talking about people's traits.
You wouldn't say a person has an alto preço to mean they are valuable.
That sounds like you are trying to buy them, which is awkward.
Keep it for items, services, consequences, and abstract concepts like freedom.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up adjectives and nouns when talking about money.
preço caro
✓preço alto (A price isn't "expensive," it's "high.")
grande preço
✓alto preço (We use height, not size, for prices.)
If you say preço caro, natives will know you are a beginner.
It's a redundancy, like saying "wet water" or "cold ice."
Stick to alto for the price and caro for the object itself.
"O carro é caro, por isso tem um alto preço."
Similar Expressions
If you want to sound more like a local, try preço salgado.
This literally means "salty price" and is very common in Brazil.
It implies the price is so high it leaves a bad taste.
For a very formal report, use custo elevado instead.
Custo elevado sounds like something a CEO would say in a board room.
On the flip side, caríssimo is just a very intense way of saying expensive.
Each one has its own flavor, so choose based on your audience.
Common Variations
You will often see the verb pagar (to pay) combined with this phrase.
Pagar um alto preço is a very common idiom for facing consequences.
"Ele pagou um alto preço por sua desonestidade."
You can also use preço altíssimo for something truly astronomical.
In advertising, you might see preço justo (fair price) as an opposite.
Knowing these variations helps you navigate a Portuguese menu or contract.
It's like having a map for the world of Portuguese commerce.
Memory Trick
Think of a "High-Rise" building made of money.
The building is alto (high), and it's made of preço (price).
You have to climb a lot of stairs to reach the top floor.
Just remember: prices in Portuguese go up, they don't get big.
Picture a price tag with a ladder leaning against it.
You need a ladder because the price is so alto!
Quick FAQ
Is alto preço formal? It is neutral but leans towards professional usage.
Can I use it for a salary? We usually say salário alto instead.
What is the opposite? The opposite is baixo preço or preço baixo.
Does it work for sacrifices? Yes, it is very common for metaphorical costs.
Is preço grande ever used? Almost never, it sounds very unnatural to natives.
Usage Notes
Use `alto preço` in neutral or professional contexts to describe significant costs. Remember that 'alto' is the only correct adjective for 'preço'; avoid 'caro' or 'grande' as they are common learner mistakes. It works exceptionally well in metaphorical contexts involving sacrifice.
The Height Rule
In Portuguese, scales of measurement (like price or speed) use 'alto/baixo' (high/low). Never use 'grande/pequeno' for prices!
Don't be Redundant
Avoid saying 'preço caro'. It's like saying 'expensive price' in English, which sounds repetitive and wrong to native ears.
Metaphorical Power
Use 'alto preço' when discussing life lessons. It sounds much deeper and more empathetic than just saying something was 'difficult'.
The 'Salty' Slang
If you are in a casual market in Brazil and find something too expensive, whisper 'está salgado'. It's a localized way to say 'the price is high'!
Examples
10O novo smartphone tem um `alto preço`, mas a câmera é excelente.
The new smartphone has a high price, but the camera is excellent.
A neutral way to discuss the cost of a high-end product.
Vista incrível, mas o `alto preço` da diária dói no bolso! 😂
Incredible view, but the high price of the daily rate hurts the wallet!
Using the phrase with a bit of humor on social media.
Sucesso rápido muitas vezes vem com um `alto preço` para a vida pessoal.
Quick success often comes with a high price for one's personal life.
A metaphorical use showing the sacrifice involved in success.
Precisamos considerar o `alto preço` das matérias-primas este mês.
We need to consider the high price of raw materials this month.
A professional context focusing on operational costs.
A liberdade tem um `alto preço` que todos devemos estar dispostos a pagar.
Freedom has a high price that we all must be willing to pay.
An abstract, powerful use of the phrase.
Eu quero ir ao show, mas esse `alto preço` do ingresso é surreal!
I want to go to the show, but this high ticket price is surreal!
Expressing frustration about costs in a casual text.
Este café gourmet é ótimo, apesar do seu `alto preço`.
This gourmet coffee is great, despite its high price.
Discussing the value of a premium food item.
✗ O café tem um preço caro → ✓ O café tem um `alto preço`.
The coffee has an expensive price → The coffee has a high price.
Correcting the common mistake of using 'caro' with 'preço'.
✗ Ele pagou um grande preço pelo erro → ✓ Ele pagou um `alto preço` pelo erro.
He paid a big price for the mistake → He paid a high price for the mistake.
Showing that 'alto' is the correct adjective for 'price', not 'grande'.
O `alto preço` dos combustíveis gera protestos em todo o país.
The high price of fuel generates protests across the country.
A typical sentence you would find in a Portuguese newspaper.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct word for a high cost.
In Portuguese, we always use 'alto' (high) to describe a price, never 'caro' or 'grande'.
Find and fix the error in the sentence about consequences.
You can't have an 'expensive price'. The price itself is 'high'.
Choose the sentence that uses the phrase naturally in a metaphorical sense.
Which sentence is correct?
This correctly uses 'alto preço' to describe the psychological cost of keeping a secret.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of Cost Expressions
Used with friends about overpriced food or clothes.
Preço salgado
Standard way to talk about significant costs.
Alto preço
Used in news reports, business, and formal writing.
Custo elevado
Where to use 'Alto Preço'
Buying a Luxury Car
Um carro de luxo tem um `alto preço`.
Regretting a Choice
Paguei um `alto preço` pelo erro.
Business News
O `alto preço` do petróleo.
Health/Lifestyle
O estresse tem um `alto preço`.
Online Shopping
Frete com um `alto preço`.
Alto Preço vs. Alternatives
Types of 'Alto Preço' Scenarios
Financial
- • Imóveis
- • Ações
- • Luxo
Metaphorical
- • Saúde
- • Tempo
- • Liberdade
Professional
- • Insumos
- • Contratos
- • Logística
Practice Bank
3 exercisesAquela bolsa de luxo tem um ___ preço.
In Portuguese, we always use 'alto' (high) to describe a price, never 'caro' or 'grande'.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ela pagou um preço caro pela sua decisão impulsiva.
You can't have an 'expensive price'. The price itself is 'high'.
Which sentence is correct?
This correctly uses 'alto preço' to describe the psychological cost of keeping a secret.
🎉 Score: /3
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
20 questionsThe most common mistake learners make is saying preço caro. In Portuguese, you should use alto to describe the price and caro to describe the item itself.
No, using alto preço for a person sounds like you are putting a bounty on them or trying to buy them. For a person's value, use grande valor instead.
Yes, alto preço is perfectly standard and widely used in both Portugal and Brazil. It is one of those safe phrases that works across all Lusophone countries.
The opposite of alto preço is baixo preço or preço baixo. Just like height, we use baixo (low) to describe a cost that is affordable or cheap.
Yes, but usually only if the food is exceptionally expensive, like at a Michelin-star restaurant. For a regular meal that is just a bit pricey, use caro.
It is a common idiom meaning 'to face the consequences' of one's actions. It implies that every decision has a cost that eventually must be settled.
It is not too formal, but it can sound a bit dramatic. If you are just complaining about a pizza, you might prefer the slang preço salgado or just caro.
It follows a linguistic logic where scales are vertical. Prices, temperatures, and speeds all go 'up' or 'down', hence the use of alto and baixo.
The preço is the amount on the tag, while custo (cost) often refers to the total expense or effort. Alto preço is more about the listed value.
Yes! Adding the suffix -íssimo makes it 'very, very high.' Use preço altíssimo when you are shocked by how expensive something is.
Technically, you might be understood, but it sounds very unnatural. Native speakers will almost always correct you to alto preço within a few seconds.
In news headlines, you'll see it used for commodities like oil or gold. For example, 'O alto preço do ouro atrai investidores' (The high price of gold attracts investors).
While not strictly religious, the idea of 'paying a high price' for redemption or success often echoes Catholic themes of sacrifice common in Portuguese culture.
Yes, you can say 'O projeto teve um alto preço em termos de tempo'. This means the project required a massive and perhaps exhausting time investment.
In some places, people might rub their thumb and index finger together (the 'money' sign) while shaking their head to emphasize the alto preço.
It means 'fair price'. It is the term used by businesses to claim their prices are not 'alto' but are actually reasonable for the quality provided.
Absolutely. Saying 'Minha paz tem um alto preço' means you are not willing to sacrifice your tranquility for anything less than something extremely valuable.
It is equally common in both. You will read it in newspapers and hear it in daily conversation when people are discussing serious financial matters.
Mix it with casual verbs like 'tá' instead of 'está'. For example: 'O preço tá muito alto!' This blends the correct phrase with natural, spoken rhythm.
It is exactly the same: o preço da fama. You can add the adjective to say o alto preço da fama to emphasize the heavy burden celebrities face.
Related Phrases
Preço salgado
informal versionVery expensive (slang)
This is the most common way to say a price is 'high' in casual Brazilian conversation.
Custo elevado
formal versionElevated cost
This phrase is used in corporate reports and formal news to sound more professional than 'alto preço'.
Preço baixo
antonymLow price
This is the direct opposite and follows the same 'height-based' logic for pricing in Portuguese.
Pagar caro
related topicTo pay dearly
This verb phrase focuses on the act of paying, whereas 'alto preço' focuses on the value itself.
Valor inestimável
related topicPriceless value
Used when something is so valuable that it transcends having an 'alto preço' altogether.
