Spanish Phrase
El envío exprés cuesta un extra.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that choosing the express shipping option will require an additional fee. In everyday Spanish, “un extra” works like ‘an extra charge’ or ‘a surcharge’. It’s a concise way to add a cost detail without specifying the exact amount.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are discussing delivery options with a customer, a friend, or a colleague—especially in online shopping, courier services, or when negotiating logistics. It works both in formal written quotes and in casual spoken conversation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Elenvíoexpréscuestaunextra.
Definite article (El)
El is the masculine singular definite article used before a noun like envío.
Noun (envío)
Envío means ‘shipping’ or ‘dispatch’; it is a masculine noun.
Adjective (exprés)
Exprés is an adjective meaning ‘express’; it agrees in gender and number with envío.
Verb (cuesta)
Cuesta is the third‑person singular form of costar ‘to cost’, used for things that have a price.
Indefinite article (un)
Un is the masculine singular indefinite article, here introducing the noun extra.
Borrowed noun (extra)
Extra is a loanword used as a noun meaning ‘extra charge’ or ‘surcharge’; it does not need a preposition.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cuánto cuesta el envío exprés?
How much does express shipping cost?
El envío exprés cuesta un extra.
Express shipping costs an extra.
✕Common Mistakes
El envío exprés cuesta extra.
The noun ‘extra’ needs an article; say ‘un extra’ or ‘un recargo’.
El envío express cuesta un extra.
Don’t forget the accent; without it the word is read incorrectly.
El envío exprés cuesta un extra.
In very formal contexts you might replace ‘un extra’ with ‘un costo adicional’ to sound more professional.
↔Alternatives
El envío rápido tiene un costo adicional.
Fast shipping has an additional cost.
El envío exprés tiene un recargo.
Express shipping has a surcharge.
El envío exprés implica un suplemento.
Express shipping implies a supplement.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, shipping fees are often presented as ‘un extra’ or ‘un recargo’ rather than a precise amount, especially in quick verbal quotes. The word ‘extra’ is a borrowed English term that has become naturalised in commercial Spanish, but in very formal writing you might prefer ‘costo adicional’ or ‘recargo’. Also, remember that the accent on ‘exprés’ is essential; omitting it changes the pronunciation and can be seen as a typo.