não fazer compras

You need to conjugate the verb fazer to make this work. The word não always sits right before the verb. If you are talking about yourself right now, say eu não faço compras. If you are talking about the past, use eu não fiz compras. It is very straightforward. You don't need extra prepositions like 'of' or 'to' in the middle. Just não + fazer + compras. You can also use it in the infinitive after another verb. For example, eu prefiro não fazer compras hoje. This is great for being polite when your roommate asks if you want to go to the supermarket. It is also perfect for those 'minimalist' Instagram captions where you pretend you don't buy things. Just remember that compras is always plural here. You are never 'not doing a purchase' in this context. You are skipping the whole category of shopping. It is a solid, chunky block of meaning that doesn't like to be broken up.

Imagine you are texting your partner on WhatsApp. You see the fridge is empty, but you are too tired to move. You might text: Hoje eu não vou fazer compras, vamos pedir pizza? (Today I’m not going shopping, shall we order pizza?). This is a classic move. Or imagine you are a travel vlogger in Lisbon. You might tell your followers: Decidi não fazer compras nesta viagem para economizar (I decided not to go shopping on this trip to save money). Your wallet will thank you, even if your followers are disappointed. In a professional setting, like a Zoom call, you might discuss household expenses. Muitas famílias optam por não fazer compras em grandes quantidades agora (Many families choose not to shop in large quantities now). It sounds formal but uses the same core phrase. It fits everywhere from a dusty grocery store in the interior of Brazil to a high-end fashion vlog. It is the ultimate 'veto' power for your Saturday morning.

Use this when you are talking about the routine task of buying things. It is perfect for grocery talk. If someone asks if you have everything for the BBQ, and you don't, you'd say não fiz compras ainda. Use it when you are discussing budgets. It is a great way to explain why you are eating ramen noodles for the third night in a row. It is also the right choice for 'window shopping' scenarios where you want to clarify you aren't actually spending. If a salesperson approaches you in a store, you can say estou só olhando, não vou fazer compras hoje. It’s a polite way to tell them to let you browse in peace. It works well for digital contexts too. If an app asks why you abandoned your cart, your mental response is decidi não fazer compras. It is a versatile tool for any situation involving a transaction that isn't happening.

Don't use this if you are just buying one specific small item. If you are going to the corner store just for a Snickers bar, don't say não vou fazer compras. It sounds too big, like you were planning a whole expedition. In that case, use comprar (to buy). Also, avoid this if you are talking about 'shopping' as a leisure activity or a hobby. In Portugal especially, they prefer ir às compras for the fun stuff. If you say não fazer compras there, it sounds like you are refusing to do your chores. It is a bit like the difference between 'doing the laundry' and 'going to a fashion show.' One is a task, the other is an event. Don't use it for business-to-business transactions either. Companies don't 'fazer compras' in the same way; they 'fazem aquisições' or 'compras de suprimentos.' Keep this phrase for the human, domestic level of life.

Learners often try to translate 'shopping' literally and say não ir shopping. That sounds like you are refusing to physically go to the mall building, not the act of buying. Another big one is ✗ não fazer a compra. Using the singular a compra makes it sound like one specific purchase, like a house or a car. For the general activity, it must be plural: compras. Some people also forget the verb fazer entirely and say ✗ não compras. This sounds like a caveman command: 'No purchases!' Always keep your verb close. Another mistake is using dar (to give) instead of fazer. You don't 'give' shopping in Portuguese, even if you are giving your money away! Stick to fazer. It is the only verb that truly 'makes' the shopping happen.

You might hear não ir às compras. This is very common in Portugal. It emphasizes the movement to the shops. In Brazil, you might hear não fazer o rancho. This is old-school slang for the big monthly grocery trip. It comes from the days when people lived on ranches and had to stock up. Another one is não bater perna. This literally means 'not to beat the legs.' It refers to the wandering around malls without buying anything. If you are really broke, you might say não gastar um centavo (not to spend a cent). This is the extreme version of não fazer compras. All these expressions circle the same drain of keeping your money in your pocket.

You can add some spice to the phrase. Não fazer compras nenhumas (Not doing any shopping at all) adds a lot of emphasis. It sounds a bit grumpy and final. You can also say não fazer compras online. This is very relevant today when we spend half our lives on Amazon or Mercado Livre. If you want to sound more casual, use the diminutive: não fazer umas comprinhas. This implies you aren't even going for the 'little' fun purchases. It sounds a bit more playful and less like a chore. Another variation is não fazer as compras da semana. This specifies you are skipping the weekly run. Adding these little details makes you sound much more like a native speaker and less like a textbook.

Is it the same as 'not buying'? Not exactly. 'Not buying' is não comprar. Não fazer compras is the whole activity. Can I use it for online shopping? Yes! It is very common for apps and websites. Is it formal? It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. Does it change in Portugal? A little. They use ir às compras more for the activity, but fazer compras is still understood as the chore. Is it only for groceries? Mostly, but it can be for clothes too if it's a big trip. Can I say 'não fazer compra'? No, always use the plural 'compras' for the general activity. Why 'fazer' and not 'ir'? 'Fazer' emphasizes the task/chore, 'ir' emphasizes the trip/movement.