erario

public treasury, exchequer

noun eh-RAH-ryoh Rare

Origin: From Latin aerarium, 'treasury' (from aes, 'bronze, money').

Usage Note

Erario refers to the state treasury or public purse — el erario público is the standard phrase. It is a formal and somewhat elevated term, more common in written journalism and official discourse than in everyday speech, where hacienda pública or simply las arcas del Estado ('state coffers') are alternatives. It is always masculine.

Examples

"El gasto afectó al erario público."

Natural Translation

The expenditure affected the public treasury.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Accent Marks: 3 Rules for Every Word

A Spanish word needs an accent mark in just three cases: it breaks the default stress, it's a homophone, or a weak vowel splits off. Here are all three rules.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

El or La? Spanish Noun Gender Rules Made Simple

El or la? Spanish noun gender is ~99% readable off the word's ending. Learn the o/a defaults, LONERS, feminine endings, and the handful of rebels to memorize.

June 3, 2026 7 min read