To get something by paying for it
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
compare
to see how things differ
+
-ar
verb suffix
Comprar means to buy and is related to the English word compare0, since you compare prices before you buy.
comprar
to buy, to purchase
When you get something by paying money for it.
Compré pan en la panadería de la esquinaI bought bread at the bakery on the corner
Queremos comprar una casa el año que vieneWe want to purchase a house next year
to buy off, to bribe
When you pay someone with power to get their favor. You are buying the person the same way you would buy anything else.
Intentaron comprar al árbitro antes del partidoThey tried to buy off the referee before the match
Dicen que el empresario compró a varios juecesThey say the businessman bribed several judges
to shop
When you do your buying somewhere regularly.
Mis padres compran en el mercado los sábadosMy parents shop at the market on Saturdays
Siempre compramos en la misma tiendaWe always shop at the same store
to buy, to believe (colloquial)
When you accept a story or an excuse as true. Like how you "buy a story" in English if you think it's true.
No le compro esa excusaI don't buy that excuse
Mi jefe no compró mi explicaciónMy boss didn't believe my explanation
comprarse
to buy oneself, to buy for oneself
When you buy something for yourself. The se points the purchase back at you.
Me compré unos zapatos nuevosI bought myself some new shoes
Ella se compró un coche con su primer sueldoShe bought a car for herself with her first paycheck