Inklingo

How to Say "purchasing" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “purchasing” is “comprando” — use 'comprando' when you mean the action of buying something right now, similar to the English '-ing' form of the verb 'to buy'..

English → Spanish

comprando

/kom-pran-doh//komˈpɾan̪d̪o/

Verb (Gerund/Present Participle)A1General
Use 'comprando' when you mean the action of buying something right now, similar to the English '-ing' form of the verb 'to buy'.
A brightly colored storybook illustration showing a transaction. A cartoon customer's hand is placing a gold coin into the open palm of a vendor's hand, signifying a purchase. Next to the hands is a large pile of fresh, colorful fruit.

Examples

Estamos comprando los regalos de Navidad ahora mismo.

We are buying the Christmas presents right now.

¿Qué estabas comprando cuando te llamé?

What were you buying when I called you?

Ella siguió comprando ropa a pesar de tener el armario lleno.

She kept buying clothes despite having a full closet.

Forming the Gerund

This word is the 'gerund' (the -ing form) of the verb 'comprar'. For all verbs that end in -ar, you replace the -ar with -ando.

Ongoing Actions (The Progressive)

Its main use is with the verb 'estar' to describe an action happening exactly at the moment you speak: 'Estoy comprando' (I am buying).

Using it after other verbs

You can use 'comprando' after verbs like 'seguir' (to continue) or 'ir' (to go, as in 'little by little'): 'Sigo comprando' (I keep buying).

Mixing up 'ser' and 'estar'

Mistake: “Soy comprando.”

Correction: Estoy comprando. Remember, the ongoing action must always use 'estar' (to be temporarily) because the action is temporary.

Using the gerund like an English adjective

Mistake: “Los libros comprando.”

Correction: Los libros comprados. In Spanish, the gerund 'comprando' must describe an action, not a state; use the past participle ('comprado') for adjectives.

comprador

kom-prah-DOR/kompɾaˈðoɾ/

AdjectiveB1Formal
Use 'comprador' as an adjective when referring to the 'power' or 'ability' to buy, indicating economic capacity.
A person happily carrying many colorful shopping bags in both hands.

Examples

Ese país tiene un gran poder comprador.

That country has great purchasing power.

Hay un ánimo comprador en la bolsa hoy.

There is a buying mood in the stock market today.

Adjective placement

When used to describe a noun (like 'power'), it usually comes after the noun.

Comprando vs. Comprador

Learners often confuse 'comprando' and 'comprador' because both relate to buying. Remember that 'comprando' is the active verb form (buying), while 'comprador' is typically used as an adjective to describe the capacity or power to buy.

Related Translations

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