compro
/kompɾo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I buy" is expressed as compro.
This is a statement used to say that the speaker is purchasing something.
Which one should you use?
You might use Adquiero in formal contexts or Me pillo in colloquial settings to imply an impulsive purchase.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Colombia, the specific phrase hago mercado is used to mean "I do the groceries" or "I buy groceries."
How does it change in a sentence?
The form compro already includes the first-person singular subject "I" within the verb ending. Because of this, the pronoun yo is often omitted.
How do you pronounce it?
/kompɾo/
Did you know?
- While compro means 'I buy', the expression comprar gato por liebre literally means 'to buy a cat instead of a hare', and is used when someone is swindled into buying a fake or inferior product.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the act of buying involves el regateo, the custom of haggling. A buyer might use compro while aggressively negotiating the price, which is seen as a social game rather than a conflict.
- The colloquial form me pillo comes from the verb pillar, which literally means 'to catch' or 'to seize', suggesting the item was grabbed quickly or impulsively.
Examples in context
- Compro un montón de borradores.I buy a lot of erasers.This sentence shows the use of compro to express buying a large quantity of erasers.Tatoeba #10106326 by arh, translation #10267556 by LimeGreenTeknii
- Compro leche casi todos los días.I buy milk almost every day.This sentence shows how compro is used to describe a habitual action of buying milk.Tatoeba #3160365 by cueyayotl, translation #1740113 by Amastan
- Compro cosas que sé que no voy a usar.I buy things that I know I am not going to use.This sentence illustrates using compro to describe the act of buying items that will not be used.Tatoeba #1876030 by Shishir, translation #1918276 by ceres629
- Yo compro productos para mi empresa.I buy products for my company.
- Adquiero suministros de oficina para mi empresa.I acquire office supplies for my company.
- Hago compras en este centro comercial.I do shopping in this shopping center.
- Compro ropa nueva para la fiesta.I buy new clothes for the party.
- Me pillo una tarta deliciosa en la pastelería.I'm getting myself a delicious cake at the bakery.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are at a street market.
- ElenaCompro estas manzanas rojas.I buy these red apples.
- AlejandroEstán muy frescas hoy, Elena.They are very fresh today, Elena.
- ElenaSí, y también compro una pera.Yes, and I also buy a pear.
- AlejandroPerfecto, Alejandro te ayuda con las bolsas.Perfect, Alejandro will help you with the bags.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
