comprando

Comprando is the gerund form of the verb comprar in Spanish and Portuguese, meaning the act of buying. It describes an ongoing or progressive action related to purchasing goods or services.

In usage, comprando forms the progressive aspect with forms of estar. In Spanish, common constructions include Estoy comprando and Ella está comprando. In Portuguese, the standard Brazilian form is Estou comprando or Ella está comprando, while European Portuguese often uses estar a comprar to express the same idea. The gerund is not typically used as a noun in either language.

Etymology and related forms: comprar comes from Latin comparare, meaning to obtain or procure, a root shared with related Romance languages. Related words include comprar (to buy), compras (purchases), and comprador (buyer) in Spanish, or comprar (to buy) and comprador (buyer) in Portuguese.

Notes on usage: as a gerund, comprando primarily serves verbal purposes and is not usually used as a standalone noun. In contexts describing shopping activities, you might also encounter the noun compras to refer to purchases, or phrases like ir de compras in Spanish or ir às compras in Portuguese.

Examples:

Spanish: Estoy comprando pan en la tienda. Ella está comprando regalos para la boda.

Portuguese (Brazil): Estou comprando pão na padaria. Ela está comprando roupas online.

Portuguese (Portugal): Estou a comprar pão na padaria. Ela está a comprar roupas online.

See also: comprar, compras, comprador.