preu

Preu is a term with several related meanings in Romance-language contexts. In Catalan, it denotes the price or cost of a good or service and is a central concept in everyday commerce as well as in economic discussion. It appears in phrases such as el preu d’un producte (the price of a product) and can be used in formal or informal pricing language. The concept of preu in Catalan aligns with the broader idea of value and cost that governs market exchange, bargaining, and consumer decisions.

Etymology and cognates: preu derives from the Latin pretium, meaning price or value. Across Romance languages, related words include Spanish precio and French prix, all tracing back to the same Latin root. The spelling and pronunciation reflect language-specific sound changes, but the core meaning remains price or value.

As a surname: Preu also occurs as a family name in Catalan-speaking regions and among related diaspora communities. In this use, the word is not interpreted as a price but as an inherited identifier, with genealogical and regional variation shaping its distribution and history.

See also: the term is related in meaning to other price-related words in Romance languages, such as precio (Spanish) and prix (French), all sharing the Latin root pretium. In economics and law, concepts analogous to preu appear in discussions of market price, fair price, and pricing regulation.