É barato.
It's cheap.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'É barato' to point out that an item or service has a low, affordable price.
- Means: It is cheap / It's inexpensive.
- Used in: Markets, stores, and when comparing costs with friends.
- Don't confuse: 'Barato' (cheap) with 'Barata' (cockroach) unless describing a feminine noun!
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
States that something has a low price.
Cultural Background
Bargaining (pechinchar) is an art form. Even if something 'é barato', a Brazilian might still ask for a discount just for the social interaction. The phrase 'bom e barato' is a gold standard for restaurants (tascas). Finding a place that is 'barato' but has high-quality food is a point of pride. In Luanda, where the cost of living can be very high, finding something that 'é barato' is rare and often discussed with excitement. Similar to other Lusophone African countries, 'barato' is used in informal markets (dumbanengues) where price negotiation is key.
Use the Diminutive
Use 'baratinho' when you want to sound more friendly and enthusiastic about a deal.
Gender Agreement
Always check if the noun is feminine (ending in -a) to change 'barato' to 'barata'.
Meaning
States that something has a low price.
Use the Diminutive
Use 'baratinho' when you want to sound more friendly and enthusiastic about a deal.
Gender Agreement
Always check if the noun is feminine (ending in -a) to change 'barato' to 'barata'.
The Slang Factor
If a Brazilian says 'Que barato!', they aren't talking about money. They think something is cool!
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form for: 'The house (a casa) is cheap.'
A casa ____.
'Casa' is feminine singular, so the adjective must be 'barata'.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'barato'.
Os livros nesta loja são muito _______.
'Livros' is masculine plural.
What would you say if a price is low only for today?
Vendedor: Hoje o arroz está em promoção! Você: Que bom! Hoje o arroz ____ ______.
Use 'estar' for temporary states like sales.
Match the phrase to the context.
Context: You are in a Brazilian club and hear a great song.
In Brazil, 'Que barato' is slang for 'How cool'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ser vs Estar with Barato
Gender Agreement
Masculine (-o)
- • O carro
- • O livro
- • O pão
Feminine (-a)
- • A casa
- • A blusa
- • A fruta
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's insulting. It implies the person has low morals or is 'easy'.
'Em conta' is slightly more formal and polite, often used in business or by older people.
Not necessarily, but the proverb 'O barato sai caro' suggests that sometimes it does.
Use 'mais barato'. For example: 'Este é mais barato'.
Yes, it is used exactly the same way for prices in Portugal.
The opposite is 'caro' (expensive).
Yes, it means 'very cheap'.
It's a diminutive that makes the phrase sound more casual, cute, or emphasizes the low price.
As a noun, yes. As an adjective, it just means 'cheap' for a feminine object.
Just change your intonation: 'É barato?'
Related Phrases
Em conta
synonymAffordable
Caro
contrastExpensive
Pechincha
builds onA bargain
De graça
specialized formFor free
Acessível
synonymAccessible/Affordable
Where to Use It
At the Street Market
Vendedor: Três quilos de laranja por cinco reais!
Cliente: Nossa, é muito barato! Vou levar.
Shopping for Clothes
Amiga A: Gostou desta blusa?
Amiga B: Sim, e o preço é ótimo. É barata!
Booking a Hotel
Viajante: Este hostel é barato?
Recepcionista: Sim, é o mais barato da cidade.
Talking about Gas Prices
Motorista: A gasolina está barata hoje.
Passageiro: Verdade, vamos aproveitar para abastecer.
Reacting to a Cool Idea (Brazil)
Pedro: Vamos acampar na praia no fim de semana?
Lucas: Que barato! Eu topo.
Ordering Food
Usuário: O frete deste app é barato?
Amigo: Sim, é apenas dois reais.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'BARGAIN' at a 'BAR' - 'BAR-ato'.
Visual Association
Imagine a bright yellow price tag with a very small number on it, sitting on top of a loaf of bread.
Rhyme
Se é barato, eu coloco no prato! (If it's cheap, I put it on my plate!)
Story
You walk into a store in Lisbon. You see a beautiful shirt. You look at the tag and it says 5 Euros. You smile and tell the clerk, 'É barato!'
Word Web
Challenge
Go to an online Brazilian or Portuguese supermarket website (like Pão de Açúcar or Continente) and find 5 items that you think are 'baratos'. Say the phrase out loud for each.
In Other Languages
Es barato
Virtually no difference in the primary sense.
C'est bon marché
French uses a fixed phrase, Portuguese uses a flexible adjective.
Es ist billig
German 'billig' has a stronger negative connotation.
安いです (Yasui desu)
Japanese adjectives have their own conjugations (past tense, negative), unlike Portuguese.
إنه رخيص (Innahu rakhees)
Sentence structure (VSO/SVO) differs significantly.
很便宜 (Hěn piányi)
Chinese lacks gender agreement and verb 'to be' in this context.
싸요 (Ssayeyo)
Korean uses levels of politeness (honorifics) which Portuguese handles via 'você/senhor'.
É barato / É em conta
The slang 'cool' meaning is specific to Brazil.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse the feminine adjective with the noun 'barata' (cockroach).
Context is key! If you are in a restaurant and say 'A sopa é barata', you are talking about the price. If you point and scream 'Uma barata!', you found a bug.
Learners try to say 'preço baixo' as 'preço barato'.
The price is 'baixo' (low), but the object is 'barato' (cheap).
FAQ (10)
No, it's insulting. It implies the person has low morals or is 'easy'.
'Em conta' is slightly more formal and polite, often used in business or by older people.
Not necessarily, but the proverb 'O barato sai caro' suggests that sometimes it does.
Use 'mais barato'. For example: 'Este é mais barato'.
Yes, it is used exactly the same way for prices in Portugal.
The opposite is 'caro' (expensive).
Yes, it means 'very cheap'.
It's a diminutive that makes the phrase sound more casual, cute, or emphasizes the low price.
As a noun, yes. As an adjective, it just means 'cheap' for a feminine object.
Just change your intonation: 'É barato?'
