Why Ahorrar Is More Than "To Save Money"
Ahorrar is the everyday verb for saving, and it is regular. It works for money, time and energy, and its reflexive form ahorrarse means to spare yourself something unpleasant, which is how Spanish says "spare me the details."
Learn the six chunks below and you can talk about goals, shortcuts and polite refusals.
Pattern 1: Ahorrar para… — "To save up for…"
Use para for the goal and al mes for how often. For the other side of the coin, see [Gastar] Chunks.
- Ahorro para el viaje. — I'm saving up for the trip.
- Estamos ahorrando para una casa. — We're saving for a house.
- Ahorra cien euros al mes. — He saves a hundred euros a month.
Chunk to learn:
Ahorrar para + [algo] / Ahorrar + [cantidad] + al mes
Pattern 2: Ahorrar tiempo — "To save time"
The same verb saves time, energy and effort. It is the chunk for shortcuts, tools and good advice. For using things well, see [Usar] Chunks.
- Así ahorras tiempo. — That way you save time.
- Esto nos ahorra mucho tiempo. — This saves us a lot of time.
- Voy en metro para ahorrar tiempo. — I take the metro to save time.
Chunk to learn:
Ahorrar tiempo / Ahorrar energía / Ahorrar esfuerzo
Pattern 3: Ahorrarse algo — "To spare yourself something"
With se, ahorrar means you avoid something annoying: a trip, a line, a cost. It is a favorite chunk of practical people. For waiting, see [Esperar] Chunks.
- Ahórrate el viaje, te lo explico por teléfono. — Save yourself the trip, I'll explain it by phone.
- Me ahorré la fila. — I skipped the line.
- Nos ahorramos el taxi. — We saved ourselves the taxi.
Chunk to learn:
Ahorrarse + [el viaje / la fila / el taxi]
Pattern 4: Ahórrame los detalles — "Spare me the details"
A colloquial command to stop someone from saying something. It is blunt but friendly among family and friends. For saying things, see [Decir] Chunks.
- Ahórrame los detalles. — Spare me the details.
- Ahórrate tus comentarios. — Keep your comments to yourself.
- Ahórrate el sermón, ya lo sé. — Spare me the lecture, I already know.
Chunk to learn:
Ahórrame + [los detalles] / Ahórrate + [tus comentarios / el sermón]
Pattern 5: Ahorrar en… — "To save on…"
Use en for the area where you cut costs: light, food, gas, travel. It is the chunk for household budgets. For paying, see [Pagar] Chunks.
- Ahorramos en la factura de luz. — We save on the electricity bill.
- Se puede ahorrar en comida. — You can save on food.
- No ahorres en zapatos buenos. — Don't skimp on good shoes.
Chunk to learn:
Ahorrar en + [luz / comida / gasolina]
Pattern 6: No ahorrar esfuerzos — "To spare no effort"
A more formal chunk for working hard or spending generously. It works with esfuerzos, gastos and elogios. For helping, see [Ayudar] Chunks.
- No ahorró esfuerzos para ayudarnos. — He spared no effort to help us.
- No ahorraron gastos en la boda. — They spared no expense on the wedding.
- No ahorres elogios. — Don't hold back your praise.
Chunk to learn:
No ahorrar + [esfuerzos / gastos / elogios]
Ahorrar vs. Guardar vs. Gastar
Ahorrar is to save, meaning to spend less or put aside. Guardar is to keep or store something: guardo las fotos. Gastar is the opposite; see [Gastar] Chunks. The noun los ahorros means your savings, and una cuenta de ahorros is a savings account.
Start with ahorro para… and ahórrame los detalles. You will use both the first time you plan something with Spanish speakers.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.