Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Buy in Spanish: Comprar
Comprar · verb · kohm-PRAHR
The Spanish verb for 'to buy' is 'comprar,' a regular -ar verb used in everyday transactions. It covers all types of purchasing, from groceries to real estate. The more formal alternative 'adquirir' (to acquire) is used for significant purchases or official transactions.
Comprar is pronounced kohm-PRAHR with stress on the final syllable. The 'pr' consonant cluster is pronounced quickly together. Conjugated: yo compro, tú compras, él compra.
Voy a comprar frutas y verduras en el mercado esta tarde.
I'm going to buy fruits and vegetables at the market this afternoon.
Buy in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for buy, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| comprar | buy | kohm-PRAHR | Default, widely understood |
| adquirir | buy | formal/acquire |
How Native Speakers Use Comprar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Grocery shopping
Compré todo lo que estaba en la lista del supermercado.
I bought everything that was on the grocery list.
Using the preterite tense for a completed purchase.
Online shopping
¿Has comprado algo en esa tienda en línea antes?
Have you bought anything from that online store before?
Using the present perfect to ask about past experience with purchases.
Major purchase
Mis padres quieren comprar una casa cerca de la playa.
My parents want to buy a house near the beach.
Using comprar with the infinitive after a desire verb for planned purchases.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Comprar
Confusing comprar with comparar
Incorrect: Voy a comparar un regalo para mi mamá.
Correct: Voy a comprar un regalo para mi mamá.
'Comparar' means 'to compare,' not 'to buy.' The subtle difference in spelling (comprar vs comparar) trips up many learners. Remember: comprar = buy, comparar = compare.
Forgetting the preposition
Incorrect: Compré mi hermana un vestido.
Correct: Le compré un vestido a mi hermana.
In Spanish, the indirect object (the person you're buying for) requires the preposition 'a' and the indirect object pronoun 'le': 'le compré a mi hermana'.
Lock in Buy Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Comprar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using comprar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Voy a comprar frutas y verduras en el mercado esta tarde. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Buy in Spanish
- Is comprar a regular verb?
- Comprar is a perfectly regular -ar verb with no stem changes or irregularities in any tense, making it one of the easiest and most useful verbs for beginners to learn and practice conjugation patterns with.
- How do you say 'to go shopping' in Spanish?
- To go shopping translates to 'ir de compras' (literally 'to go of purchases'), while 'hacer compras' means to do shopping/make purchases—both are extremely common expressions in daily Spanish conversation.
- What's the difference between comprar and adquirir?
- While both mean to obtain something through purchase, 'comprar' is everyday and casual (buying groceries, clothes, gifts), while 'adquirir' is more formal and implies a significant acquisition (property, rights, companies) or is used in legal and business language.