Discount
This means "offer" or "sale." Use it when you see items advertised at a lower price for a limited time.
This means "promotion." It's very similar to "oferta" and often refers to special deals like "buy one, get one free."
Means "reduction" or "markdown." While understood in Latin America, it's the most common word for sales in Spain.
Is there any discount?
The shirt has a 20 percent discount.
These shoes are on sale.
I'm looking for the store's promotions.
The word 'descuento' is universally understood and is the most direct translation. 'Oferta' and 'promoción' are also extremely common for store sales and special deals.
In Spain, 'rebajas' is the most common term, especially for seasonal sales (e.g., 'las rebajas de enero'). 'Descuento' and 'oferta' are also used and understood perfectly.
'Descuento' is the standard term. 'Oferta' is used for a special price on an item, and 'promoción' often implies a deal like '2x1' (two for one).
'Descuento' is the most frequent word. You will also hear 'oferta' constantly. For clearance sales, the term 'liquidación' is very common.
Discuento — Descuento — A common mistake is to mispronounce or misspell the word with an 'i' instead of an 'e'. The correct prefix is 'des-', which often indicates removal or reduction in Spanish.
¿Es descuento? — ¿Tiene descuento? — When asking if an item has a discount, you need to use the verb 'tener' (to have). Saying '¿Es descuento?' literally means 'Is it a discount?', which is grammatically awkward. The correct way is '¿Tiene descuento?' (Does it have a discount?).
Quiero un barato. — Quiero un descuento. / Busco algo más barato. — 'Barato' is an adjective meaning 'cheap' or 'inexpensive,' while 'descuento' is a noun for 'discount'. You can't ask for 'a cheap'. You can ask for 'a discount' ('un descuento') or look for 'something cheaper' ('algo más barato').
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