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compra

Kohm-prah/ˈkompɾa/

purchase, shopping

Also: acquisition
NounfA1
Spain
A smiling cartoon figure holds a bright red shopping bag containing a loaf of bread, representing a purchase.

📝 In Action

¿Hiciste la compra para la cena?

A1

Did you do the shopping (groceries) for dinner?

Esta compra fue muy cara.

A2

This purchase was very expensive.

Vamos de compras al centro comercial.

A1

We are going shopping at the mall.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adquisición (acquisition)
  • mercancía (goods (bought))

Antonyms

  • venta (sale)
  • devolución (return (of goods))

Common Collocations

  • ir de compras – to go shopping
  • hacer la compra – to do the grocery shopping
  • compra impulsiva – impulse buy

he/she/it buys, buy!

VerbA1regular ar
A cartoon figure hands a banknote to another person's hand across a counter, illustrating the act of buying.
infinitivecomprar
gerundcomprando
past Participlecomprado

📝 In Action

Mi padre compra el periódico cada mañana.

A1

My father buys the newspaper every morning.

¡Compra el boleto antes de que se acabe!

A2

Buy the ticket before it runs out!

Usted compra solo la marca más barata.

A2

You (formal) buy only the cheapest brand.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedcompra
yocompro
túcompras
ellos/ellas/ustedescompran
nosotroscompramos
vosotroscompráis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcompraba
yocompraba
túcomprabas
ellos/ellas/ustedescompraban
nosotroscomprábamos
vosotroscomprabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedcompró
yocompré
túcompraste
ellos/ellas/ustedescompraron
nosotroscompramos
vosotroscomprasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedcompre
yocompre
túcompres
ellos/ellas/ustedescompren
nosotroscompremos
vosotroscompréis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcomprara/comprase
yocomprara/comprase
túcompraras/comprases
ellos/ellas/ustedescompraran/comprasen
nosotroscompráramos/comprásemos
vosotroscomprarais/compraseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "compra" in Spanish:

acquisition→purchase→shopping→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: compra

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'compra' as a noun (the purchase)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
comprar(to buy) — Verb
comprador(buyer) — Noun
compraventa(buying and selling) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *comparare*, which originally meant 'to prepare' or 'to procure.' Over time, its meaning shifted across Romance languages to specifically mean 'to acquire' or 'to buy.'

First recorded: 13th century (in similar forms)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: compraItalian: comprare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'compra' (noun) and 'comprar' (verb)?

'Comprar' is the action itself ('to buy'). 'Compra' is the result or the activity of buying ('the purchase' or 'the shopping').

How do I say 'go shopping' in Spanish?

The most common and natural way is 'ir de compras' (plural), or 'hacer la compra' if you are specifically referring to grocery shopping.