How do you say shopping in Spanish?

The standard expression is ir de compras for the activity of shopping, or simply las compras when referring to the purchases themselves or the errand.

How do you say shopping mall in Spanish?

Shopping mall is centro comercial in most Spanish-speaking countries, though in Argentina and some neighboring countries the anglicism shopping is colloquially used for the mall itself.

How do you say online shopping in Spanish?

Online shopping is compras por internet or compras en línea, with hacer compras en línea being the complete verbal expression for shopping online.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Shopping in Spanish: Compras

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Compras · noun (feminine) · KOHM-prahs

Shopping in Spanish is compras or the phrase ir de compras (to go shopping), used for any purchasing activity.

Compras is KOHM-prahs, two syllables with stress on KOHM.

Vamos de compras al centro comercial este sábado.

Let's go shopping at the mall this Saturday.

Shopping in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for shopping, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
compras	shopping	KOHM-prahs	Default, widely understood
ir de compras	shopping		the activity of going shopping
shopping	shopping		anglicism used for shopping centers

How Native Speakers Use Compras

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Weekly groceries

Hago las compras del supermercado todos los lunes.

I do the grocery shopping every Monday.

Routine errand discussion.

Leisure activity

A mi hermana le encanta ir de compras los fines de semana.

My sister loves to go shopping on weekends.

Describing a hobby.

Online shopping

Últimamente prefiero hacer compras por internet.

Lately I prefer to do my shopping online.

E-commerce conversation.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Compras

Using shopping as a Spanish word

Incorrect: Vamos al shopping a comprar ropa.

Correct: Vamos al centro comercial a comprar ropa.

While shopping is used as an anglicism for mall in Argentina, in most regions it sounds incorrect; use centro comercial.

Singular vs plural

Incorrect: Fui de compra ayer.

Correct: Fui de compras ayer.

The expression is always ir de compras (plural), even if you only bought one item.

Lock in Shopping 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 Compras used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using compras in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Vamos de compras al centro comercial este sábado. 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 Shopping in Spanish

How do you say shopping in Spanish?: The standard expression is ir de compras for the activity of shopping, or simply las compras when referring to the purchases themselves or the errand.
How do you say shopping mall in Spanish?: Shopping mall is centro comercial in most Spanish-speaking countries, though in Argentina and some neighboring countries the anglicism shopping is colloquially used for the mall itself.
How do you say online shopping in Spanish?: Online shopping is compras por internet or compras en línea, with hacer compras en línea being the complete verbal expression for shopping online.