pagar la compra
/paɡaɾ la kompɾa/from spelling rules
To pay for groceries in Spanish, use pagar la compra.
The phrase is used to describe the act of giving money in exchange for food and household items bought at a store.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb pagar (to pay) and the noun phrase la compra (the purchase or the shopping).
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, which uses the preposition 'for' (pay for), the Spanish phrase uses a direct object construction with no preposition between the verb and the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɡaɾ la kompɾa/
Did you know?
- The verb pagar actually shares an ancient root with the word 'peace'. It stems from the Latin pācāre, which means 'to pacify' or 'to make peace'.
- While la compra refers to the groceries themselves, in some regions like Mexico, people often use the word el mandado to refer to the errand of buying food and household supplies.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to see a cobrador handle the payment, as some smaller shops have a separate person specifically for taking money.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿dónde puedo abonar las compras del supermercado?Excuse me, where can I pay for the supermarket purchases?
- Ya he abonado la cuenta de la compra. ¿Deseas algo más?I have already paid the purchase bill. Is there anything else you need?
- Tengo que pagar la compra antes de que cierren la tienda.I have to pay for the groceries before the store closes.
- Tengo que pagar la compra en el supermercado.I have to pay for the groceries at the supermarket.
- ¿Puedes pagar la compra con mi tarjeta?Can you pay for the groceries with my card?
- Ella fue a pagar la compra rápidamente.She went to pay for the groceries quickly.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are at the supermarket checkout.
- MateoMaría, ¿tienes efectivo para pagar la compra?María, do you have cash to pay for the groceries?
- MaríaNo, prefiero pagar la compra con la aplicación.No, I prefer to pay for the groceries with the app.
- MateoEstá bien, yo espero aquí.That is fine, I will wait here.
- MaríaListo, ya he pagado todo.Done, I have paid for everything.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries compra, la, pagar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
