What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of quiero (I want), comprar (to buy) and ropa (clothes/clothing).
Which one should you use?
Using me gustaría comprar ropa instead of quiero comprar ropa makes the request sound more polite and less demanding when speaking to shop assistants.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can use Me urge comprar ropa to say "I urgently need to buy clothes" or the colloquial phrase Quiero echarme una comprita de ropa to mean "I want to go on a clothes shopping spree".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase quiero comprar ropa, the verb quiero is the first-person singular present indicative of querer, so the subject yo (I) is implied and does not need to be stated. You can change the subject by changing the form of the verb: use quieres comprar ropa for "you want to buy clothes" (informal) and queremos comprar ropa for "we want to buy clothes".
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo kompɾaɾ ɾopa/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Quiero comprar ropa para el verano.I want to buy clothes for the summer.
- ¡Vamos de compras! Quiero comprar ropa nueva.Let's go shopping! I want to buy new clothes.
- Estoy aburrido de mi guardarropa, quiero comprar ropa diferente.I'm bored with my wardrobe, I want to buy different clothes.
- Me gustaría comprar ropa para la fiesta de mañana.I would like to buy clothes for tomorrow's party.
- Me gustaría comprar ropa más moderna.I would like to buy more fashionable clothes.
- ¿Sabes dónde puedo comprar ropa de buena calidad? Me gustaría comprar algunas prendas nuevas.Do you know where I can buy good quality clothes? I would like to buy some new garments.
- Quisiera comprar ropa para la presentación de mañana.I would like to buy clothes for tomorrow's presentation.
- Quisiera comprar ropa elegante.I would like to buy elegant clothes.
- Quisiera comprar ropa de buena calidad.I would like to buy clothes of good quality.
- Me gustaría adquirir prendas de vestir de diseñadores reconocidos.I would like to acquire clothes from renowned designers.
- Me gustaría adquirir prendas de vestir a medida.I would like to acquire tailor-made clothes.
- Quiero comprar ropa nueva para el verano.I want to buy new clothes for the summer.
- Hoy quiero comprar ropa para la fiesta.Today I want to buy clothes for the party.
- No tengo dinero y quiero comprar ropa.I don't have money and I want to buy clothes.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are walking through a shopping mall.
- SofíaAlejandro, quiero comprar ropa en esta tienda.Alejandro, I want to buy clothes in this store.
- Alejandro¿Buscas algo especial, Sofía?Are you looking for something special, Sofía?
- SofíaSí, quiero comprar ropa elegante para el trabajo.Yes, I want to buy elegant clothes for work.
- AlejandroEstá bien, vamos a ver qué hay.Okay, let's go see what they have.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comprar, ropa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
