Economic vs. economical

[irmamar]

What is the difference between these two adjectives?

Thanks.

[poli]

Originally Posted by irmamar

What is the difference between these two adjectives?

Thanks.

Economical significa frugal.
Economic significa lo que pertenencia la economía (más o menos financial.)

[Perikles]

Sorry to disagree, but I can't see any difference between the two adjectives.

[poli]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Sorry to disagree, but I can't see any difference between the two adjectives.

Just apply the two words to a sentence or phrase:
Economic recovery
Economical recovery

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by poli

Just apply the two words to a sentence or phrase:
Economic recovery
Economical recovery

Good point, thanks. I retract my previous post.

[chileno]

Right.

To me economic = economía and economical = económino

[ookami]

Originally Posted by chileno

Right.

To me economic = economía and economical = económico

just a typo (by the way, I just came back from Chile, very beautiful )

[chileno]

Originally Posted by ookami

just a typo (by the way, I just came back from Chile, very beautiful )

Lo que pasa es que me importó un comino hacer el typo... Gracias por la correción.

Gracias. Viendo el canal internacional veo documentales cortos sobre diferentes ciudades de Argentina, y me duele no haber tenido, ni tener la plata ahora para viajar y conocer Bs As, Tucumán etc...

[irmamar]

I thought 'economy' and 'economics' meant 'economía'.

Take a look at this paragraph, I wouldn't translate 'economical expansion' into 'frugal', but into 'expansión económica'. I would translate 'economical effect' into 'efectos (consecuencias) económicos', too. So, I'm not sure when I must use one or the other.

The economic effect on local communities was devastating; coal-mining, for example, was decimated. A further loss of employment in traditional coalfields took place in the 1990s, even though this decade saw an economical expansion.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

The economic effect on local communities was devastating; coal-mining, for example, was decimated. A further loss of employment in traditional coalfields took place in the 1990s, even though this decade saw an economical expansion.

I'll let @Poli explain that one. It is just possible that the difference he cites between the two words has become more certain lately, and that the two words used to be interchangeable.

[poli]

Pericles is right. The meaning has shifted. According to a dictionary, economical started to mean thrifty in the late 18th century. Prior to that, it exclusively meant pertaining to the field of finance. Economical expansion sounds bad, unless it means expanding in a careful frugal manner. I don't believe this was the writer's intention, I believe the writer chose economical in a failed attempt at not sounding too repetitive.

I would advise the writer to find a more-current synonymn. For instance: "The financial effect on local communities was devastating...even though this decade saw economic expansion.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by poli

Pericles is right. The meaning has shifted. According to a dictionary, economical started to mean thrifty in the late 18th century. Prior to that, it exclusively meant pertaining to the field of finance. .

This is why I originally claimed there was no difference - I learnt the word 300 years ago.

Originally Posted by poli

I believe the writer chose economical in a failed attempt at not sounding too repetitive.

That was my impression too.

[chileno]

Context is everything.

[irmamar]

Thank you everybody.

Although I find difficult to change 'economical' for 'financial' (if financial can be translated into 'financiero'), since economy as an idea or a fact existed before the first bank was created; I mean one can study economy in x country in 10th century, whereas the first bank was opened about 15th century. So, in a sentence having "economical effect in the 10th century" couldn't be changed into "financial effect in the 10th century". Well, I'm not really sure.

[chileno]

economy effect = financial effect

[Awaken]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Thank you everybody.

Although I find difficult to change 'economical' for 'financial' (if financial can be translated into 'financiero'), since economy as an idea or a fact existed before the first bank was created; I mean one can study economy in x country in 10th century, whereas the first bank was opened about 15th century. So, in a sentence having "economical effect in the 10th century" couldn't be changed into "financial effect in the 10th century". Well, I'm not really sure.

Financial means "relating to money matters," so whether a bank existed has no bearing on the use of that word. Money has been around for long time, so anything that has to do with money is financial.