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A2 noun 9 min read

gasto

Examples Notes & Tips gasto in 30 Seconds
Explanation gasto in your Level:
At the A1 level, you only need to understand 'gasto' as 'spending money.' It is a basic noun that appears when talking about shopping or daily life. You might see it in a simple sentence like 'Meu gasto é pequeno' (My spending is small). At this stage, learners often confuse it with the verb 'gastar' (to spend), so it's important to recognize it when it follows an article like 'o' or 'um.' You don't need to worry about complex economic terms yet; just think of it as the opposite of saving money. Focus on the physical act of money leaving your wallet. It's often one of the first words learned in the context of 'Personal Finances 101.' You might also see it on a receipt or a simple shopping list. The main goal at A1 is to realize that 'gasto' is a thing (a noun) and not just an action. It's a very practical word for surviving in a Portuguese-speaking environment where you have to manage a basic budget.
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At the A2 level, you start using 'gasto' in more structured ways, especially in the plural form 'gastos.' You should be able to talk about your 'gastos mensais' (monthly expenses) and use basic adjectives to describe them, such as 'gastos altos' (high expenses) or 'gastos baixos' (low expenses). This is the level where you learn the important preposition 'com'—as in 'gastos com comida' (spending on food). You should also begin to recognize 'gasto' in non-monetary contexts, like 'gasto de energia' (energy use). You are expected to handle simple conversations about budgeting, such as 'Eu preciso reduzir meus gastos' (I need to reduce my spending). You will see this word frequently in banking apps and when discussing household chores or responsibilities. It's a key word for expressing the reality of living costs. You should also be able to distinguish it from 'custo' (the price of one item) vs 'gasto' (your total expenditure).
By B1, you are moving beyond simple survival and into more descriptive language. You use 'gasto' to discuss social issues, environmental impact, and more detailed personal planning. You might talk about the 'gasto de água' (water consumption) in the context of sustainability or the 'gasto público' (public spending) when discussing the news. At this level, you should be comfortable using the word in professional settings, such as 'O gasto do projeto superou o orçamento' (The project's spending exceeded the budget). You also start to learn more sophisticated collocations like 'gasto supérfluo' (unnecessary spending) or 'gasto imprevisto' (unforeseen expense). You can explain why a 'gasto' occurred and offer solutions to manage it. Your understanding of the word's nuances—such as the difference between a necessary 'gasto' and a 'desperdício' (waste)—becomes much clearer. You are also expected to use it correctly in various tenses when it appears alongside verbs like 'haver' or 'existir'.
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At the B2 level, 'gasto' becomes a tool for analysis and argument. You use it in discussions about fiscal policy, corporate strategy, and complex resource management. You should be able to discuss the 'teto de gastos' (spending cap) and its implications for a country's economy. You understand the difference between 'gasto corrente' (current spending) and 'gasto de capital' (capital expenditure) in a business context. Your vocabulary expands to include synonyms like 'desembolso' or 'dispêndio,' and you know when to use 'gasto' to sound more natural versus 'despesa' to sound more professional. You can write reports or essays analyzing 'gastos governamentais' or 'padrões de gasto do consumidor' (consumer spending patterns). At this stage, you also recognize the word in more idiomatic or metaphorical senses, and you can use it to talk about the 'wear and tear' of materials in a technical discussion. You are able to debate the efficiency of certain 'gastos' and propose alternatives using complex grammatical structures.
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At the C1 level, your use of 'gasto' is precise and nuanced. You can distinguish between the subtle connotations of 'gasto,' 'custo,' 'despesa,' and 'encargo' in high-level academic or professional texts. You understand the historical and cultural context of 'gastos' in Lusophone societies—for instance, how inflation history affects the way people perceive 'gastos fixos.' You can use the word in complex rhetorical structures to persuade or criticize, such as 'O gasto desenfreado em setores não essenciais compromete o desenvolvimento a longo prazo.' You are also fully aware of the word's role as a past participle and can navigate sentences where the noun and adjective forms might appear close together without confusion. You can analyze the 'gasto' of energy in chemical processes or the 'gasto' of political capital in a legislative battle. Your ability to use collocations is near-native, and you can switch registers effortlessly depending on whether you are talking to a friend about a 'gasto à toa' or a board of directors about 'gastos operacionais.'
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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'gasto' in all its forms and contexts. You can appreciate the word's use in literature, where it might be used metaphorically to describe the 'gasto da vida' (the wearing away of life) or the 'gasto das emoções.' You can engage in high-level economic theory discussions, debating the nuances of 'gasto público' versus 'investimento' from various ideological perspectives. You understand the etymological roots and how they connect to other Romance languages, providing a deep linguistic perspective. You can write specialized articles on fiscal responsibility, using 'gasto' alongside technical terms like 'superávit,' 'déficit,' and 'ajuste fiscal' with perfect accuracy. There is no confusion between the noun and the verb/adjective forms, even in the most complex poetic or legal syntax. You can also pick up on very subtle regional differences in how 'gasto' is used in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, or Mozambique. For you, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a versatile concept that you can manipulate to express the finest shades of meaning regarding resources, time, and human effort.
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Examples Notes & Tips

gasto in 30 Seconds

  • Gasto is a masculine noun meaning 'expense' or 'spending'.
  • It covers money, time, energy, and physical resources.
  • Commonly used with the preposition 'com' (e.g., gasto com comida).
  • It is also the past participle of 'gastar', meaning 'worn out'.

The Portuguese word gasto is primarily a masculine noun that translates to 'expense,' 'expenditure,' or 'cost.' At its core, it represents the act of consuming a resource—most commonly money, but also time, energy, or materials. While it is a relatively simple word at the A2 level, its utility spans from basic household budgeting to complex macroeconomic discussions. In a domestic context, you might hear a parent complaining about the gasto de energia (energy consumption/cost) when lights are left on. In a business or government context, it refers to the outflow of capital. It is important to distinguish the noun o gasto from the past participle of the verb gastar (to spend/to wear out), although they are spelled the same. As a noun, it encapsulates the quantity or the specific instance of spending.

Financial Context
Refers to money that has been paid out. Example: 'O gasto mensal com alimentação subiu' (The monthly expense with food rose).
Resource Consumption
Refers to the use of physical or abstract resources. Example: 'Houve um grande gasto de combustível' (There was a large consumption of fuel).

Precisamos reduzir o gasto público para equilibrar as contas.

In Brazil and Portugal, the word is ubiquitous in news headlines regarding the economy. You will often see it paired with adjectives like excessivo (excessive), necessário (necessary), or imprevisto (unforeseen). Because the Portuguese-speaking world has historically faced periods of high inflation and economic volatility, the concept of 'gastos' is socially significant; people are often very conscious of their 'gastos fixos' (fixed expenses like rent) versus 'gastos variáveis' (flexible spending like entertainment).

O gasto com a viagem foi maior do que o esperado.

Abstract Usage
Can refer to the 'wear and tear' of an object, though this is more common as an adjective. As a noun, 'o gasto de uma peça' refers to its depletion or use.

Este motor tem um gasto de óleo muito alto.

Using gasto correctly requires understanding its role as a masculine noun. It is usually preceded by an article (o, um) or a possessive pronoun (meu, seu, nosso). When you want to specify what the money was spent on, you use the preposition com (with). This is a common point of confusion for English speakers who might want to say 'gasto para' or 'gasto em'. While 'gasto em' is sometimes used, 'gasto com' is the standard idiomatic way to link the expense to its source.

The 'Com' Pattern
[Gasto] + [com] + [Noun]. Example: 'Meu maior gasto é com o aluguel' (My biggest expense is with the rent).

Tivemos um gasto extra com o conserto do carro.

In the plural form, gastos, it often describes the general financial state or a list of items. Phrases like 'cortar gastos' (to cut expenses) or 'controlar os gastos' (to control spending) are essential for anyone living in a Portuguese-speaking country. When used in a sequence, 'gastos' often precedes the category: 'gastos militares', 'gastos educacionais', 'gastos domésticos'. Notice how the adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun.

Os gastos supérfluos devem ser eliminados do orçamento.

Another interesting use is in the context of effort or time. While 'perda de tempo' (waste of time) is common, 'gasto de tempo' implies an investment or an allocation of time that might be necessary but heavy. Similarly, 'gasto de energia' can be physical (calories burned) or literal (electricity used). In these cases, it functions as a synonym for consumption.

O gasto calórico nesta atividade é impressionante.

Common Verb Pairings
Ter (to have), reduzir (to reduce), aumentar (to increase), prever (to foresee), justificar (to justify).

Não consigo justificar esse gasto tão alto.

You will encounter gasto in almost every facet of daily life in Brazil or Portugal. If you are using a banking app (like Nubank, Itaú, or Revolut), your transaction history will likely be categorized under 'Meus Gastos'. This is the standard term for personal finance tracking. When you go to a restaurant with friends and the bill arrives, someone might remark on the 'gasto total' of the evening. It is a word that grounds the conversation in reality and pragmatism.

In the Media
News anchors frequently discuss 'gastos do governo' (government spending) or 'teto de gastos' (spending cap). The latter is a specific political and economic policy in Brazil that has been a major topic of debate for years.

O jornal informou que o gasto com saúde aumentou este ano.

In a professional environment, during a meeting about project management, you might hear a manager say, 'Precisamos avaliar o gasto de recursos humanos no projeto X.' Here, 'gasto' refers to the man-hours or effort allocated. It is less formal than 'investimento' but more descriptive than 'trabalho'. It implies that the resource is finite and must be accounted for. You will also hear it in technical fields; a mechanic might tell you about the 'gasto excessivo de óleo' in your car engine, or an electrician might talk about the 'gasto de energia' of a specific appliance.

No aplicativo, você pode ver o seu gasto por categoria.

Culturally, the word often carries a slight negative or cautionary weight. While an 'investimento' (investment) is seen as positive, a 'gasto' is often seen as something that needs to be minimized or at least justified. When people say 'Isso é só gasto!' they mean it's a waste of money with no return. This nuance is vital for understanding the emotional tone of a conversation involving money.

Everyday Phrases
'Controlar os gastos' (to watch your spending), 'Gasto fixo' (fixed cost), 'Gasto à toa' (useless spending).

Evite todo gasto desnecessário durante a crise.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is confusing the noun gasto with the adjective gasto. While they are spelled identically, their usage is distinct. As an adjective, 'gasto' means 'worn out' or 'spent.' For example, 'O sapato está gasto' (The shoe is worn out). As a noun, it always takes a masculine article: 'O gasto foi alto.' Beginners often forget to change the ending for the adjective (gasta, gastos, gastas) but must remember that the noun is always masculine.

Confusion with 'Custo'
'Custo' is the price tag or the value required to produce something. 'Gasto' is the actual act of paying it. You ask for the 'custo' of a service, but you record your 'gasto' after paying for it.

Erro: Qual é o gasto deste livro? (Incorrect if you mean price). Correto: Qual é o preço/custo deste livro?

Another mistake is the preposition. As mentioned before, English speakers tend to say 'gasto em aluguel' because in English we say 'spending ON rent.' In Portuguese, while 'em' is understandable, the more natural and grammatically frequent preposition is com. Saying 'meu gasto com aluguel' marks you as a more proficient speaker. Using 'para' is almost always incorrect in this context.

Atenção: Não confunda 'o gasto' (the expense) com 'eu gasto' (I spend - verb).

Finally, remember the pluralization. In English, 'spending' is often uncountable ('My spending is high'). In Portuguese, 'gastos' is the preferred form for general spending. Saying 'Meu gasto é alto' is fine, but 'Meus gastos são altos' is much more common when talking about your overall financial life. Failing to pluralize the verb 'ser' when using 'gastos' is a common A2-level error.

Preposition Pitfall
Wrong: Gasto de dinheiro para comida. Right: Gasto de dinheiro com comida.

Os gastos mensais estão fora de controle.

To enrich your Portuguese vocabulary, you should know the synonyms and related terms for gasto. While 'gasto' is the most versatile and common term, other words offer specific nuances that can make your speech more precise. The most frequent alternative is despesa. While they are often interchangeable, 'despesa' is slightly more formal and is the standard term used in accounting and business balance sheets. A 'gasto' is what you do; a 'despesa' is what you record.

Despesa vs. Gasto
'Gasto' is broader, covering energy and time. 'Despesa' is strictly financial and formal. Example: 'Despesas de viagem' (Travel expenses).
Custo
Focuses on the price or value of something. Example: 'O custo de vida em Lisboa é alto' (The cost of living in Lisbon is high).

Temos que analisar cada despesa no relatório trimestral.

Another synonym is desembolso. This refers specifically to the 'outflow' of cash—the moment money leaves your pocket or account. It is a more technical term used in finance. On the other hand, if you want to emphasize that the spending is a burden or a liability, you might use ônus or encargo. 'Encargos sociais', for instance, refers to the mandatory labor costs/taxes an employer must pay. These words are much higher level (B2-C1) and add a layer of legal or professional weight to the conversation.

O desembolso inicial para a franquia foi alto.

In informal Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear the word rombo used for a huge, unplanned, or catastrophic 'gasto' or deficit in a budget. 'Houve um rombo nas contas' implies a 'hole' or a massive loss. Conversely, 'investimento' is the positive antonym of 'gasto'. If you want to convince someone to spend money, you call it an investment; if you want to complain about it, you call it a gasto.

Summary of Alternatives
Despesa (Formal/Accounting), Custo (Value/Price), Desembolso (Cash flow), Desperdício (Waste), Encargo (Burden/Tax).

Não veja isso como um gasto, mas como um investimento no seu futuro.

Fun Fact

The English word 'waste' and the Portuguese word 'gasto' share the same Latin root 'vastus'. This explains why 'gasto' can refer to both spending and wearing something out.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈɡaʃ.tu/
US /ˈɡas.tu/
The stress is on the first syllable: GAS-to.
Rhymes With
pasto vasto rastro casto astro fasto arrasto cadastro
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing the final 'o' as a strong 'oh' instead of 'u'.
  • Confusing the 's' sound between Portugal (sh) and Brazil (s).
  • Nasalizing the 'a' too much.
  • Making the 'g' soft like a 'j'.
  • Stressing the second syllable.
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Examples by Level

1

O meu gasto com café é grande.

My spending on coffee is big.

Simple noun usage with 'meu' (my).

2

Um gasto pequeno é bom.

A small expense is good.

Adjective 'pequeno' following the noun.

3

Quanto foi o gasto hoje?

How much was the spending today?

Using 'quanto' to ask about quantity.

4

Eu tenho um gasto fixo.

I have a fixed expense.

The word 'fixo' describes the type of expense.

5

O gasto total é dez euros.

The total expense is ten euros.

Total is a common adjective for gasto.

6

Não quero mais gasto.

I don't want more spending.

Negative sentence with 'mais'.

7

O gasto de água é pouco.

The water consumption is little.

'Gasto de' connects the consumption to the resource.

8

Este gasto é necessário.

This expense is necessary.

Demonstrative 'este' (this).

1

Preciso controlar meu gasto mensal.

I need to control my monthly spending.

Infinitive 'controlar' followed by the noun.

2

O gasto com o carro foi alto.

The expense with the car was high.

Using 'com' to specify the category.

3

Temos muitos gastos no verão.

We have many expenses in the summer.

Plural form 'gastos' with 'muitos'.

4

O gasto de energia subiu muito.

The energy consumption rose a lot.

Verb 'subir' (to rise) describing the noun.

5

Qual é o seu maior gasto?

What is your biggest expense?

Superlative 'maior' (biggest).

6

Reduzi o gasto com supermercado.

I reduced the spending on the supermarket.

Past tense verb 'reduzi'.

7

Eles dividem os gastos da casa.

They share the house expenses.

Verb 'dividir' (to share/divide).

8

Não tive nenhum gasto extra.

I didn't have any extra expense.

Pronoun 'nenhum' (none/any).

1

O governo quer reduzir o gasto público.

The government wants to reduce public spending.

Formal adjective 'público'.

2

Houve um gasto excessivo de papel.

There was an excessive waste/use of paper.

Noun 'gasto' used for materials.

3

O gasto de tempo foi desnecessário.

The spending of time was unnecessary.

Abstract resource 'tempo'.

4

Anote cada gasto na sua planilha.

Note down every expense in your spreadsheet.

Imperative 'anote'.

5

O gasto calórico da corrida é alto.

The caloric burn of the run is high.

Scientific/Health context.

6

Não podemos ter mais nenhum gasto imprevisto.

We cannot have any more unforeseen expenses.

Compound adjective 'imprevisto'.

7

O relatório mostra o gasto por setor.

The report shows the spending per sector.

Preposition 'por' (per/by).

8

O gasto com educação é prioridade.

Spending on education is a priority.

Abstract concept as a priority.

1

O teto de gastos é uma medida polêmica.

The spending cap is a controversial measure.

Specific economic term 'teto de gastos'.

2

O gasto de capital deve ser aprovado.

The capital expenditure must be approved.

Business term 'gasto de capital'.

3

Houve um gasto considerável de recursos.

There was a considerable expenditure of resources.

Adjective 'considerável'.

4

A eficiência reduz o gasto operacional.

Efficiency reduces operational spending.

Professional context 'operacional'.

5

O gasto excessivo gerou uma dívida.

Excessive spending generated a debt.

Cause and effect structure.

6

Precisamos justificar o gasto de energia.

We need to justify the energy consumption.

Verb 'justificar' (to justify).

7

O padrão de gasto mudou na pandemia.

The spending pattern changed during the pandemic.

Noun phrase 'padrão de gasto'.

8

O gasto militar foi questionado pelo povo.

Military spending was questioned by the people.

Passive voice 'foi questionado'.

1

O gasto desenfreado compromete a economia.

Unbridled spending compromises the economy.

Advanced adjective 'desenfreado'.

2

A análise foca no gasto discricionário.

The analysis focuses on discretionary spending.

Technical term 'discricionário'.

3

O gasto de capital político foi imenso.

The expenditure of political capital was immense.

Metaphorical use of 'gasto'.

4

Mitigar o gasto de recursos é essencial.

Mitigating the expenditure of resources is essential.

Advanced verb 'mitigar'.

5

O gasto recorrente pressiona o orçamento.

Recurring spending pressures the budget.

Financial term 'recorrente'.

6

Observamos um gasto de materiais na obra.

We observed a depletion/use of materials at the site.

Context of material depletion.

7

O gasto per capita em saúde é baixo.

The per capita spending on health is low.

Latin phrase 'per capita' used in Portuguese.

8

A austeridade foca no corte de gastos.

Austerity focuses on cutting expenses.

Political/Economic theory context.

1

O gasto da existência é o tema do livro.

The wearing away of existence is the book's theme.

Poetic/Philosophical usage.

2

A lei regula o gasto com publicidade.

The law regulates spending on advertising.

Legal/Regulatory context.

3

O gasto de tecido foi otimizado pelo software.

The fabric consumption was optimized by the software.

Industrial optimization context.

4

Houve um gasto de energia psíquica brutal.

There was a brutal expenditure of psychic energy.

Psychological context.

5

A trajetória de gasto é insustentável.

The spending trajectory is unsustainable.

High-level fiscal analysis.

6

O gasto efetivo difere do gasto previsto.

Actual spending differs from projected spending.

Comparison of technical financial terms.

7

O gasto de tempo na burocracia é um entrave.

The spending of time on bureaucracy is a hurdle.

Socio-political critique.

8

O gasto de água por irrigação deve cair.

Water consumption by irrigation must fall.

Environmental/Agricultural policy.

Common Collocations

Gasto fixo
Gasto variável
Gasto público
Gasto excessivo
Gasto de energia
Gasto de tempo
Gasto mensal
Gasto imprevisto
Gasto calórico
Gasto militar

Common Phrases

Cortar gastos

— To reduce expenses significantly.

A empresa precisa cortar gastos para sobreviver.

Controlar os gastos

— To monitor and manage how much money is spent.

É difícil controlar os gastos no Natal.

Gasto à toa

— Spending money on something useless.

Comprar esse relógio foi um gasto à toa.

Ter muito gasto

— To have many expenses or high costs.

Ter um filho gera muito gasto.

Gasto de manutenção

— Money spent to keep something working.

O gasto de manutenção do prédio é alto.

Teto de gastos

— A legal or self-imposed limit on spending.

O teto de gastos foi ultrapassado.

Gasto desnecessário

— Spending that could have been avoided.

Elimine todo gasto desnecessário.

Gasto total

— The sum of all expenses.

O gasto total da festa foi mil reais.

Gasto por cabeça

— Spending per person (per capita).

O gasto por cabeça no jantar foi de cinquenta reais.

Gasto de capital

— Money spent on fixed assets (CAPEX).

O gasto de capital aumentou no novo trimestre.

Idioms & Expressions

"Gasto de sola"

— A lot of walking or physical effort to find something.

Foi preciso muito gasto de sola para achar este apartamento.

Informal
"Gasto de saliva"

— Talking a lot without achieving a result; a waste of words.

Tentar convencê-lo é puro gasto de saliva.

Informal
"Gasto de vela com mau defunto"

— Spending resources on someone or something that doesn't deserve it (Portuguese idiom).

Ajudá-lo é gasto de vela com mau defunto.

Informal/Traditional
"Jogar dinheiro fora"

— To waste money (related to gasto).

Comprar isso é jogar dinheiro fora.

Informal
"Apertar o cinto"

— To reduce gastos because of lack of money.

A situação está difícil, vamos ter que apertar o cinto.

Informal
"Fazer as contas"

— To calculate your gastos.

No fim do mês, sempre faço as contas.

Neutral
"Sair caro"

— To result in a high gasto or negative consequence.

Essa brincadeira vai sair caro.

Neutral
"Estar no vermelho"

— To have more gastos than income.

Minha conta bancária está no vermelho.

Informal
"Pé furado"

— Someone who spends money too easily (related to high gastos).

Ele é um pé furado, gasta tudo o que ganha.

Slang (Brazil)
"Mão de vaca"

— Someone who hates having any gasto; stingy.

Não seja mão de vaca, pague o sorvete!

Slang

Word Family

Nouns

gasto
gastança
gastador
despesa

Verbs

gastar
desgastar
re-gastar

Adjectives

gasto
gastado
gastador
desgastante

Related

dinheiro
custo
preço
orçamento
finanças
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Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Gasto' as 'Gas-to-go'. You need to spend money (gasto) to get gas for your car to go. Money 'goes' away like gas.

Visual Association

Imagine a wallet with a small hole in it where coins are falling out. Each falling coin is a 'gasto'.

Word Web

Dinheiro Cartão Aluguel Comida Luz Água Salário Banco

Challenge

Write down your three biggest 'gastos' of the week in Portuguese and try to categorize them as 'fixo' or 'variável'.

Word Origin

From the Portuguese verb 'gastar', which originates from the Latin 'vastare'.

Original meaning: In Latin, 'vastare' meant 'to lay waste', 'to empty', or 'to devastate'. Over time, it evolved in Romance languages to mean the consumption of resources.

Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > Portuguese.
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Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

gasto Spanish
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