comprad

Comprad is the second-person plural imperative form of the Spanish verb comprar, meaning “to buy.” It is used to address a group of people informally in regions that use the vosotr os form, primarily Spain. In Latin America, where the vosotros form is generally not used, this imperative is uncommon and speakers typically use the ustedes form (compren) instead.

Formation and examples

For regular -ar verbs like comprar, the vosotros imperative ends in -ad. Therefore, compras is not used; instead, you say “comprad.” Example: “Comprad pan” means “Buy bread.” The negative form is “no compréis pan.” Other principal verb forms in the present tense for comparison are: tú compras, Usted compra, nosotros compramos, vosotros compráis, Ustedes compran; but in the imperative, the vosotros form is the distinctive “comprad.”

Usage and register

Comprad is standard in Spain when giving a direct command to a group in informal contexts. Its use signals familiarity with the audience and is typical of written or oral material that preserves the traditional vosotros conjugation. In most Latin American varieties, or in formal written Spanish intended for a broad audience, the ustedes form (compren) is used instead for affirmative commands, and “no compren” for negative commands.

Notes

As a verb form, comprad does not function as a standalone noun or proper noun in standard Spanish. If encountered outside its grammatical role, it is likely part of a larger phrase or a transcription error.