comprare
/komˈpra.re/
To buy in Italian is comprare.
The phrase means to acquire something by paying money for it.
Which one should you use?
While comprare is the standard word for 'to buy', acquistare is a more formal synonym often used to mean 'to acquire' or 'to purchase'. Colloquially, you may also hear prendere used to convey the idea of buying something.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Venice, the dialectal form comprèr is sometimes used instead of comprare.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative of comprare is compro (I buy). To express the future, the first-person singular indicative is comprerò (I will buy).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /komˈpra.re/.
Did you know?
- The Latin root of comprare originally meant 'to prepare' or 'to get ready', suggesting that buying something was once viewed as a process of preparation.
- In historical Italian contexts, the word comprare was occasionally used to mean 'to bribe' or 'to pay off' a person to gain their favor.
- While comprare is used for shopping, Italians use the verb fare meaning 'to do' or 'to make' in the expression fare la spesa to describe the routine act of grocery shopping.
Examples in context
- Non so cosa comprare.I don't know what to buy.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of comprare when expressing uncertainty.Tatoeba #3547079 by Guybrush88, translation #3825960 by CK
- Sa cosa deve comprare.He knows what he has to buy.This sentence shows how to use comprare to express necessity.Tatoeba #8257894 by Guybrush88, translation #7402337 by CH
- Pensa a cosa comprare.Think about what to buy.This sentence demonstrates how to use comprare in an imperative context.Tatoeba #10892714 by Guybrush88, translation #10862591 by ddnktr
- Voglio comprare una maglietta nuova.I want to buy a new t-shirt.
- L'azienda ha intenzione di acquistare nuovi computer.The company intends to buy new computers.
- Domani andiamo a comprare le scarpe.Tomorrow, we're going to buy shoes.
- Ho preso una pizza da asporto.I bought a take-away pizza.
- Posso comprare questa borsa, per favore?Can I buy this bag, please?
- Hai comprato gli ingredienti per la torta?Did you buy the ingredients for the cake?
- 1138 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are at a shopping mall.
- MartinaAlessandro, cosa vuoi comprare oggi?Alessandro, what do you want to buy today?
- AlessandroVorrei comprare delle nuove scarpe.I would like to buy some new shoes.
- MartinaTi piace questo negozio?Do you like this shop?
- AlessandroSì, è un ottimo posto.Yes, it is a great place.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry comprare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comprare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
