me gusta ir de compras
/me ɡusta iɾ de kompɾas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I like to go shopping" is translated into Spanish as me gusta ir de compras.
This phrase is a statement used to express that someone enjoys the activity of buying things at stores.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, me gusta ir de compras translates to "to me it is pleasing to go of purchases".
Which one should you use?
While me gusta ir de compras refers to the activity of going shopping, if you want to say you like the actual items or the purchases themselves as a plural noun, you should use me gustan las compras.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this construction, the verb gustar is used to mean "it is pleasing to me". Because of this, the actual subject of the sentence is the activity of going shopping rather than the person.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta iɾ de kompɾas/
Did you know?
- The verb ir is one of the most irregular in Spanish because it is a 'Frankenstein' word. Its different forms come from three separate Latin verbs: īre for the infinitive, vādere for voy and esse for fui.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, 'going shopping' (ir de compras) is a social ritual often involving a 'paseo' or stroll. It is frequently viewed as a leisure activity for bonding with friends rather than a chore for acquiring goods.
- If you are in Argentina or Uruguay, you might hear the command andá used to tell someone to go, which is derived from the verb andar meaning 'to walk' instead of ir.
Examples in context
- Me gusta ir de compras porque puedo descubrir nuevas tiendas y encontrar ropa de moda.I like to go shopping because I can discover new stores and find fashionable clothes.
- Me encanta ir de compras los fines de semana con mis amigos.I love to go shopping on weekends with my friends.
- Me chifla ir de compras en esta tienda porque siempre tienen las últimas tendencias.I'm crazy about going shopping at this store because they always have the latest trends.
- Me gusta ir de compras los sábados.I like to go shopping on Saturdays.
- No me gusta ir de compras con mucha gente.I don't like to go shopping with many people.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are discussing their weekend plans.
- Javier¿Quieres salir este fin de semana?Do you want to go out this weekend?
- ElenaSí, a mí me gusta ir de compras.Yes, I like to go shopping.
- Javier¡Perfecto! Yo también quiero comprar ropa nueva.Perfect! I want to buy new clothes too.
- ElenaEntonces, vamos al centro comercial.Then, let's go to the mall.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, ir, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
