De Compras: Shopping, Clothing, and Colors in Spanish
Shopping is a universal experience that combines numbers, descriptions, and cultural interaction. Whether you're browsing a modern mall or exploring a traditional mercado, these vocabulary tools will help you navigate with confidence!
The Color Palette - Los Colores
Los Colores The colours
rojored
naranjaorange
amarilloyellow
verdegreen
azulblue
moradopurple — also violeta
rosapink — also rosado
marrónbrown — café in much of Latin America
negroblack
blancowhite
grisgrey
azul clarolight blue
verde oscurodark green
Colours agree — except when they don't
Most colours behave like ordinary adjectives: el coche rojo, la camisa
roja. But those ending in -e or a consonant have one form for both
genders — verde, azul, gris. And colours borrowed from a noun
often don't change at all: las camisas naranja,
los zapatos rosa. Add claro or oscuro and the
whole phrase freezes: las paredes azul claro.
Clothing Vocabulary - La Ropa
Parte de Arriba Upper body
la camisashirt lah kah-MEE-sah
la blusablouse lah BLOO-sah
la camisetat-shirt — la playera in Mexico
el suéterjumper, sweater ehl SWEH-tehr
la chaquetajacket lah chah-KEH-tah
el abrigocoat
Parte de Abajo Lower body
los pantalonestrousers — always plural pahn-tah-LOH-nehs
los vaquerosjeans — also los jeans
la faldaskirt lah FAHL-dah
el vestidodress ehl vehs-TEE-doh
los pantalones cortosshorts
El Calzado Footwear
los zapatosshoes lohs sah-PAH-tohs
las botasboots lahs BOH-tahs
los tenistrainers — las zapatillas in Spain
las sandaliassandals sahn-DAH-lee-ahs
los calcetinessocks
Los Accesorios Accessories
el cinturónbelt
la corbatatie
el sombrerohat with a brim — la gorra for a cap
los guantesgloves
la bufandascarf
las gafas de solsunglasses — los lentes in Latin America
Shopping Locations - Lugares de Compras
Las Tiendas Where you shop
el centro comercialshopping mall
el mercadomarket — where bargaining may be fair game
la tienda de ropaclothing shop
la zapateríashoe shop
el supermercadosupermarket
la panaderíabakery
el probadorfitting room
la cajathe till, checkout
el escaparateshop window — la vidriera in the Southern Cone
The -ería pattern
A shop is very often its product plus -ería: zapato →
zapatería, pan → panadería, libro →
librería, carne → carnicería, flor →
florería. Once you hear it, a lot of shopfronts decode themselves.
Size and Fit - Tallas y Medidas
Label
Spanish tag
Said in full
XS
XCH
extra chico
S
CH / P
chico
M
M
mediano
L
G
grande
XL
XG
extra grande
¿Cómo Te Queda? How does it fit?
Me queda bienit fits me well
Me queda grandeit's too big on me
Me queda pequeñoit's too small on me
Me queda apretadoit's too tight
Me queda flojoit's too loose
¿Tiene una talla más grande?Do you have a bigger size?
¿Puedo probármelo?Can I try it on?
Me lo llevoI'll take it
Talla, número, tamaño — three different words for size
Clothes take la talla. Shoes take el número —
¿qué número calza? is what a shoe seller asks.
El tamaño is for objects generally, not for things you wear. And
quedar here means "to fit", with the garment as the subject: literally
"it fits to me".
Shopping Phrases - Frases de Compras
Essential Shopping Questions
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How much does it cost?
¿Cuánto es?
How much is it?
¿Tienen en otro color?
Do you have it in another color?
¿Tienen una talla más grande/chica?
Do you have a bigger/smaller size?
¿Puedo probármelo?
Can I try it on?
¿Dónde están los probadores?
Where are the fitting rooms?
¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
Do you accept credit cards?
¿Hay descuento?
Is there a discount?
Describing What You Want
Los Estampados Patterns
de rayasstriped
de cuadroschecked, plaid
de lunarespolka-dot
lisoplain, one colour
estampadopatterned, printed
Los Materiales Materials
de algodóncotton
de lanawool
de sedasilk
de cueroleather
de linolinen
Busco Algo… I'm looking for something…
más formalsmarter
más casualmore casual
más modernomore modern
más baratocheaper
más cómodomore comfortable
de otro colorin another colour
De does the describing
Both patterns and materials attach with de and never change form:
una camisa de rayas de algodón —
a striped cotton shirt. Because it's a prepositional phrase, not an adjective, nothing
agrees: unos pantalones de cuadros, una falda de cuadros.
At the Market - En el Mercado
Bargaining Dialogue - Regateando
Vendedor:
¿Qué busca, amigo/a?
What are you looking for, friend?
Cliente:
Estoy buscando una bolsa de cuero.
I'm looking for a leather bag.
Vendedor:
Tengo estas. Son de muy buena calidad.
I have these. They're very good quality.
Cliente:
¿Cuánto cuesta esta negra?
How much is this black one?
Vendedor:
Trescientos pesos.
Three hundred pesos.
Cliente:
¿Me lo deja en doscientos?
Would you give it to me for two hundred?
Vendedor:
Le doy el último precio: doscientos cincuenta.
I'll give you the final price: two hundred fifty.
Practice Closet
Exercise: Color Agreement
Make the colors agree with the nouns:
la camisa _______ (white)
los zapatos _______ (black)
las faldas _______ (red)
el vestido _______ (blue)
Answers: blanca, negros, rojas, azul
Exercise: Shopping Situations
What would you say in these situations?
You want to know if they have your size: _____________
You want to try something on: _____________
It's too expensive: _____________
You'll take it: _____________
Shopping Scenarios
At a Clothing Store
Empleado: ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?
You: Busco un suéter azul marino.
Empleado: ¿Qué talla necesita?
You: Mediano, por favor.
Empleado: Aquí tiene. Los probadores están al fondo.
Shopping Culture Tips
Markets vs Stores: Bargaining is expected at markets but not in regular stores
Sizing: Latin American sizes often run smaller than US sizes
Payment: Cash is still king in many places; always ask about cards
Service: Expect more personal attention from sales staff
Pesos mexicanos: Currently about 17-18 pesos = $1 USD
Always clarify: "¿En pesos o dólares?"
Large numbers: mil = 1,000, cinco mil = 5,000
Bargaining phrases: "¿Es su mejor precio?" (Is that your best price?)
Your Shopping Adventure
This week's shopping challenges:
Window shop and describe 3 outfits in Spanish
Visit a Latin market or store and practice asking prices
Create a color-coded list of your wardrobe items
Practice describing what you're wearing each day
Learn the Spanish names for 5 items in your closet
Remember: Shopping is a great way to practice numbers, colors, and polite phrases all at once. Don't be shy - most shopkeepers appreciate your effort to speak Spanish!