departamento de compras
/depaɾtamento de kompɾas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "purchasing department" is translated into Spanish as departamento de compras.
The part of a company or organization responsible for buying the goods and services it needs.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of departamento (department), de (of) and compras (purchases).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the purchasing department is known as departamento de abastecimiento.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun compras is used in the plural form to represent the general function of purchasing.
How do you pronounce it?
/depaɾtamento de kompɾas/
Did you know?
- The word departamento shares its roots with the English word 'department' because both stem from the French département, which comes from the verb 'départir' meaning to divide.
- In many Spanish-speaking corporate cultures, the head of this department is often called the jefe de compras, regardless of whether they hold a formal managerial title.
- While departamento de compras is standard, some large corporations in Spain use the term departamento de adquisiciones to sound more formal or technical.
Examples in context
- En el departamento de compras se encargan de adquirir los materiales necesarios para el funcionamiento de la empresa.In the purchasing department, they are responsible for acquiring the materials necessary for the company's operations.
- Hablé con el departamento de compras ayer.I spoke with the purchasing department yesterday.
- El departamento de compras aprobó el presupuesto.The purchasing department approved the budget.
- Necesito enviar este documento al departamento de compras.I need to send this document to the purchasing department.
Example conversation
Javier and María are discussing a missing invoice at the office.
- Javier¿Sabes quién tiene la factura, María?Do you know who has the invoice, María?
- MaríaCreo que la tiene el departamento de compras.I think the purchasing department has it.
- JavierVoy a preguntarles ahora mismo.I am going to ask them right now.
- MaríaGracias, Javier, avísame cuando lo encuentres.Thanks, Javier, let me know when you find it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, departamento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
