costo
Il costo della vita è aumentato molto negli ultimi anni.
The cost of living has increased a lot in recent years.
The amount of money needed to buy or produce something.
Qual è il costo di questa macchina?
What is the cost of this car?
Used in both singular and plural forms ('costo'/'costi').
The price paid for something, often in terms of effort, loss, or sacrifice.
La vittoria ebbe un alto costo in vite umane.
The victory came at a high cost in human lives.
Common in expressions like 'a costo di' (at the cost of).
In economics, the expense incurred by a producer in manufacturing a good or providing a service.
Il costo marginale è fondamentale per le decisioni di produzione.
Marginal cost is crucial for production decisions.
Often used in phrases like 'costo fisso' (fixed cost) or 'costo variabile' (variable cost).
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Collocations
Remember that 'costo' is often paired with prepositions like 'di' (e.g., 'costo di produzione' = production cost) or 'a' (e.g., 'a costo di...' = at the cost of...).
Gold Rule
Singular vs. Plural
Use 'costo' for a single expense and 'costi' for multiple expenses or general costs. For example, 'Il costo della benzina' (the cost of gas) vs. 'I costi di produzione' (production costs).
Word Origin
From Latin 'costus' (to stand firm, cost), via Old French 'cost' (cost, expense).
Usage Notes
In Italian, 'costo' is singular when referring to a single expense and plural ('costi') when referring to multiple expenses or general costs. It is commonly used in both everyday and technical contexts, including economics and business.