Portuguese Phrase
Qual é o mais econômico?
Meaning
The sentence asks which option, product, or choice is the most economical – i.e., which one costs the least or offers the best value for money. It can be used in everyday shopping, travel planning, or any situation where you compare costs.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to compare two or more alternatives and want to know which one saves the most money, such as choosing a car, a phone plan, a restaurant, or a travel route.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Qualéomaiseconômico?
Qual (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about a specific item among a known set; it agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to.
é (verb ser)
Third‑person singular of the verb ‘ser’, used for permanent characteristics or definitions.
o (definite article)
Masculine singular article that matches the gender of the noun ‘econômico’.
mais + adjective (comparative)
‘mais’ + adjective forms the comparative ‘more …’; the adjective stays in its base form.
econômico (adjective)
Means ‘economical’ or ‘cost‑effective’; it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Estou pensando em comprar um carro novo. Qual é o mais econômico?
I'm thinking about buying a new car. Which one is the most economical?
O híbrido tem um consumo de 4,5 L/100 km, então ele é o mais econômico.
The hybrid has a consumption of 4.5 L/100 km, so it’s the most economical.
✕Common Mistakes
Qual é a mais econômico?
The adjective must agree with the feminine article ‘a’; use ‘econômica’ instead of ‘econômico’.
Qual é o mais barato?
While not wrong, learners sometimes use ‘barato’ when they actually mean ‘economical’ in the sense of fuel efficiency; choose the word that matches the context.
Qual é o mais mais econômico?
Avoid double comparatives; ‘mais’ already makes the adjective comparative.
↔Alternatives
Qual é a opção mais barata?
Which option is the cheapest?
Qual custa menos?
Which one costs less?
Qual é o mais barato?
Which one is the cheapest?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, people often use ‘mais barato’ for price comparisons, while ‘mais econômico’ can also refer to fuel efficiency or long‑term cost savings. Adjust the adjective to match the noun’s gender – e.g., ‘Qual é a mais econômica?’ when talking about a feminine noun like ‘opção’. In Portugal, the phrase is equally common, but you’ll hear ‘mais económico’ with a ‘c’ instead of ‘econômico’.