spesa
/ˈspe.za/
The Italian word for shopping (the activity of buying) is spesa.
Meaning: activity of buying (noun)
Which one should you use?
While spesa is used for groceries, Italians often use the English loanword fare shopping to describe browsing stores for non-essential goods like clothes or electronics.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form spesa refers to the act of shopping, but the plural form spese shifts the meaning to refer to expenses or costs, such as spese di viaggio (travel expenses).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈspe.za/.
Did you know?
- The root of spesa comes from the Latin 'expendere', which originally described the physical act of weighing out coins on a scale.
- In many Italian dialects, such as Sicilian or Venetan, the word for shopping or spending takes a similar form like spisa or spexa, showing its deep historical roots across the peninsula.
- Italians rarely use spesa to describe buying luxury items, as the word is deeply tied to the domesticity of the kitchen and home.
Examples in context
- Sta facendo la spesa.You're shopping.This sentence shows how to say someone is currently shopping using spesa.Tatoeba #9708116 by Guybrush88, translation #9475634 by DJ_Saidez
- Vanno a fare la spesa.They go shopping.This sentence describes the action of people going shopping using spesa.Tatoeba #4782244 by Guybrush88, translation #564720 by CK
- Andai a fare la spesa.I went food shopping.This sentence uses the past tense to describe a completed trip for food shopping using spesa.Tatoeba #12784330 by Guybrush88, translation #5938322 by CK
- Vorrei fare shopping per un abito elegante.I would like to go shopping for an elegant dress.
- Devo fare alcuni acquisti per la casa.I need to do some shopping for the house.
- Domani andiamo a fare shopping insieme?Shall we go shopping together tomorrow?
- Sabato scendo in centro a fare compere.On Saturday, I'm going downtown to do some shopping.
- 82 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are in the kitchen planning their day.
- FrancescoDobbiamo fare la spesa oggi?Do we have to do the shopping today?
- MartinaSì, la spesa è urgente.Yes, the shopping is urgent.
- FrancescoMartina, prendi la lista per la spesa.Martina, take the shopping list.
- MartinaVa bene, Francesco, la prendo subito.Okay, Francesco, I'll take it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry spesa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries spesa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
