What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hacer las compras literally translates to to do the purchases.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between hacer las compras, which refers specifically to buying necessities like groceries and ir de compras, which typically refers to shopping for leisure items such as clothes or electronics.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Hacer la compra is widely used, while Hacer las compras is also used but less frequently. In Latin America, Hacer el mandado is used to refer to grocery shopping. In some Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, the colloquial expression hacer el mandado is a common way to refer to running errands or grocery shopping.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Spanish-speaking regions, the singular form hacer la compra is used to refer to the specific act of grocery shopping.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθeɾ las kompɾas/
Did you know?
- The word mandado in hacer el mandado comes from mandar, meaning 'to order' or 'to command', framing grocery shopping as the fulfillment of a directive.
- In some Latin American markets, the act of hacer el mandado involves 'regatear', or negotiating the price of produce, which is rarely done in Spain's supermarkets.
- The verb hacer in this phrase is a descendant of the Latin 'facere', which is also the distant ancestor of the English word 'fact'.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, necesito comprar algunos comestibles para la semana.Excuse me, I need to buy some groceries for the week.
- Voy a hacer la compra al supermercado, ¿quieres venir?I'm going grocery shopping. Do you want to come?
- ¿Puede recomendarme un buen lugar para hacer las compras cerca de aquí?Can you recommend a good place for grocery shopping around here?
- ¿Tienen alguna oferta en las verduras hoy?Do you have any deals on vegetables today?
- Necesito comprar dos kilos de manzanas.I need to buy two kilos of apples.
- Quisiera una docena de huevos, por favor.I would like a dozen eggs, please.
- Tengo que hacer las compras hoy.I have to do the grocery shopping today.
- ¿Quieres hacer las compras conmigo?Do you want to do the grocery shopping with me?
- Ella prefiere hacer las compras por la mañana.She prefers to do the grocery shopping in the morning.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are planning their weekend chores.
- DanielElena, ¿cuándo vamos a hacer las compras?Elena, when are we going to do the grocery shopping?
- ElenaPodemos ir mañana por la mañana.We can go tomorrow morning.
- DanielPerfecto, yo preparo la lista.Perfect, I will prepare the list.
- ElenaGracias, Daniel. Nos vemos mañana.Thanks, Daniel. See you tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hacer, las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
