comprare
buy
Ottenere qualcosa dando in cambio denaro.
Definition & meaning
Comprare means to buy or to purchase: to obtain something by paying for it.
Depending on context, it can also mean to acquire something. Figuratively, it may describe winning someone’s loyalty or support with money or benefits.
Grammar & Word origin
Comprare is a regular Italian verb in the -are conjugation. It is transitive, so it normally takes a direct object, and it uses avere to form compound tenses. Its past participle is comprato.
The ending -are marks the infinitive; the verb stem is compr-. The word derives from Latin comparare, meaning “to procure” or “to acquire.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- acquistare — “to purchase” or “to acquire.” It is often a little more formal than comprare.
- comperare — a variant with essentially the same meaning, though it is less common in everyday use.
- vendere — “to sell”; the direct opposite when describing a transaction.
- cedere — “to give up,” “to transfer,” or “to hand over.” It is an opposite only in contexts involving the transfer of ownership.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Voglio comprare un libro nuovo.verb
I want to buy a new book.
Ieri ho comprato delle mele al mercato.verb
Yesterday I bought some apples at the market.
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