What is cost? Pronunciation and usage in English

cost means . Learn how to pronounce and use cost through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of cost

costverb/noun

/kɒst/
Definition & pronunciation of cost

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "cost" in English. Here's a breakdown of the sounds and how to put them together:

1. Phonetic Transcription (for accuracy):

  • /kɒst/ (This is the most common and generally accepted pronunciation)

2. Breaking it Down:

  • "c": Pronounced like the "k" in "cat."
  • "o": Pronounced like the "o" in "hot" or "lot." It's a short "o" sound.
  • "st": This is the trickiest part. It’s pronounced like “st” in “stop” or “street”.

3. Putting it Together - The Rhythm:

The word is spoken with a slight emphasis on the first syllable ("cost"). It's a fairly quick, clipped pronunciation.

4. Listen to Examples:

  • Google it: Search for "how to pronounce cost" on Google and listen to the audio examples. This is highly recommended.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/cost/ - This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • YouTube: Search "pronounce cost" on YouTube, and you'll find many videos.

Tips:

  • Don't over-elongate: “Cost” is a short word. Avoid stretching it out too much.
  • Focus on the clear “st” sound. This is where many learners stumble.

Do you want me to:

  • Provide you with a more detailed explanation of any particular sound?
  • Give you some example sentences using the word "cost"?

Usage and examples with the word cost in English

Let's break down how to use the word "cost" in English. It's a really versatile word with several different meanings and ways to incorporate it into sentences. Here's a breakdown categorized for clarity:

1. Basic Meaning: Price

  • As a Noun: This is the most common usage. "Cost" refers to the amount of money something requires.
    • Example: "The shirt cost $20." (The shirt's price was $20.)
    • Example: "What did the groceries cost?" (How much did the groceries cost?)
    • Example: "The hotel room cost us $150 per night."

2. As a Verb: To Spend Money

  • To indicate the amount spent: "Cost" can be used as a verb meaning to pay for something.
    • Example: “I cost my grandmother $50 for her birthday.” (I spent $50 on her birthday.)
    • Example: “It costs a lot of money to live in this city.” (Living in this city requires spending a lot of money.)
    • Example: "The repairs cost $300." (The repairs amounted to $300.)

3. Phrases with "Cost"

Here are some common phrases that use "cost":

  • “Cost an arm and a leg”: This idiom means something is very expensive.
    • Example: “That car cost an arm and a leg!”
  • “Cost a fortune”: Similar to above, meaning extremely expensive.
    • Example: “Buying a house cost a fortune.”
  • “Cost someone time”: Meaning something took a lot of time.
    • Example: “It cost me three hours to finish the project.”
  • “Cost someone effort”: Meaning something required a lot of work.
    • Example: “Learning to play the piano cost her a lot of effort.”
  • “Cost (something) to do something”: This structure expresses the expense of an action.
    • Example: "It costs $5 to park here."
    • Example: "Traveling to Europe cost me a small fortune."

4. Using "Cost" with Specifics

  • “Cost per unit”: Refers to the price for a single item.
    • Example: "The cost per unit of the product is $10."
  • “Cost of living”: The expenses needed to maintain a certain standard of living.
    • Example: “The cost of living has increased significantly.”
  • “Cost analysis”: A study of the expenses involved in a project or activity.
    • Example: “We conducted a cost analysis to determine the project's feasibility.”

5. Comparing Costs

  • “Cost more” / “Cost less”: Used to compare the price of different things.
    • Example: “This dress costs less than that one.”
    • Example: “The new model costs more than the old one.”

Important Notes:

  • “Spend” vs. “Cost”: “Spend” is your action of paying money. “Cost” is the amount of money something requires.

    • I spent $20. (I paid $20.)
    • The movie cost $12. (The price of the movie was $12.)

  • "Price" vs. "Cost": "Price" is often used when talking about the amount a retailer charges. "Cost" often refers to the overall expense, including production and shipping. However, in everyday conversation, they are often used interchangeably.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about? (e.g., discussing prices, talking about expenses, writing a story, etc.)

Synonyms for the word cost

Idioms of the word cost

at all cost/costs
whatever is needed to achieve something
  • You must stop the press from finding out at all costs.
at any cost
under any circumstances
  • He is determined to win at any cost.
at cost
for only the amount of money that is needed to make or get something, without any profit being added on
  • goods sold at cost
count the cost (of something)
to feel the bad effects of a mistake, an accident, etc.
  • The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.
know/learn/find something to your cost
to know something because of something unpleasant that has happened to you
  • She is a tough competitor, as I know to my cost.

Practice with vocabulary cost

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The total ______ of the project exceeded the initial budget by 15%.
  2. What will it ______ to implement the new software system across all departments?
  3. The retail ______ for the latest smartphone model has been announced, causing some debate among consumers.
  4. Managing daily operational ______ is crucial for small businesses to remain profitable in a competitive market.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The new software implementation will ______ a significant amount of money and time. a) acquire b) charge c) cost d) price

  2. Businesses must carefully consider the potential _______ of failing to adapt to new market trends. a) implications b) consequences c) costs d) burdens

  3. The unforeseen delays added to the overall _______ of the construction, impacting the company's financial projections. a) budget b) expenditure c) cost d) estimation

  4. The bank applies a small _______ for international wire transfers to cover administrative overhead. a) charge b) fee c) price d) expense

  5. Companies often struggle to accurately assess the long-term _______ of investing in employee training and development. a) worth b) benefit c) value d) budget

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The renovation of the office building proved to be very expensive. (Rewrite using a form of "cost")
  2. How much money do we need to spend to upgrade our IT infrastructure? (Rewrite using "cost")
  3. The company made a profit by selling products for a higher amount than they spent to produce them. (Rewrite without using "cost" or its forms)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The total cost of the project exceeded the initial budget by 15%.
  2. What will it cost to implement the new software system across all departments?
  3. The retail price for the latest smartphone model has been announced, causing some debate among consumers.
  4. Managing daily operational expenses is crucial for small businesses to remain profitable in a competitive market.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) cost
  2. a) implications, b) consequences, c) costs, d) burdens
  3. b) expenditure, c) cost
  4. a) charge, b) fee
  5. a) worth, b) benefit, c) value

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The renovation of the office building proved to be very costly.
  2. What will it cost to upgrade our IT infrastructure?
  3. The company made a profit by selling products for a higher amount than their production expenses.

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