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'Ir de compras', 'ir de camping': going out for an activity in Spanish

When English speakers go out to do something fun, they usually add an -ing word: go shopping, go camping, go partying. Spanish uses a different formula. It takes the verb ir, adds de, and then a noun with no article: ir de compras, ir de camping, ir de fiesta, ir de vacaciones.

This trips learners up because the English -ing form seems to call for a Spanish verb, so people reach for a gerund like comprando or an infinitive. For this group of leisure outings, though, Spanish thinks of the activity as a thing you go off on, not as an action you perform.

Word list
fiestafA1 party ir de fiesta = go partying vacacionesfA1 vacation ir de vacaciones = go on vacation aventurafA2 adventure ir de aventura = go off on an adventure paseomA2 walk ir de paseo = go for a walk viajemA2 travel ir de viaje = go on a trip caceríafB1 hunt ir de cacería = go hunting caminatafB1 walk ir de caminata = go hiking cazafB1 hunt ir de caza = go hunting ir de acampadaB1 to camp ir de acampada = go camping ir de campingB1 to camp ir de camping = go camping ir de comprasB1 to shop ir de compras = go shopping ir de tiendasB1 to shop ir de tiendas = go round the shops luna de mielfB1 honeymoon ir de luna de miel = go on honeymoon turismomB1 tourism ir de turismo = go sightseeing visitafB1 visit ir de visita = go visiting cruceromB2 cruise ir de crucero = go on a cruise excursiónfB2 excursion ir de excursión = go on an outing exploraciónfC1 exploration ir de exploración = go exploring peregrinaciónfC2 pilgrimage ir de peregrinación = go on a pilgrimage peregrinajemC2 pilgrimage ir de peregrinaje = go on a pilgrimage
How it works

The pattern is always ir de + noun. The noun stands alone, with no un, una, el or la in front of it. You conjugate ir as usual. You will often see irse (me voy, nos vamos) when the idea is leaving for somewhere, and salir for going out at night.

Los sábados vamos de compras al centro.
(On Saturdays we go shopping downtown.)
Este verano nos vamos de camping.
(This summer we're going camping.)

Rule of thumb: if the English is go + activity, and the activity is a leisure outing (a trip, a party, a walk, a shopping session), check whether Spanish has an ir de + noun expression for it.

The words
Shopping and camping

Ir de compras and ir de tiendas both mean going shopping. Ir de tiendas puts the focus on browsing from shop to shop. For camping you can say ir de camping everywhere, and ir de acampada is common in Spain.

Me encanta ir de tiendas con mis amigas.
(I love going round the shops with my friends.)
Los chicos se van de acampada a la sierra.
(The kids are going camping in the mountains.)
Going out and relaxing

Fiesta gives ir de fiesta or salir de fiesta, which means to go partying. Paseo gives ir de paseo, to go for a walk.

¿Salimos de fiesta esta noche?
(Shall we go out partying tonight?)
Después de comer, vamos de paseo por el parque.
(After lunch, we go for a walk in the park.)
Trips of all sizes

Vacaciones, viaje, excursión, crucero and luna de miel all work the same way. English uses go on in these cases, but Spanish still uses de.

En agosto nos vamos de vacaciones a la playa.
(In August we're going on vacation to the beach.)
Mañana me voy de viaje a México.
(Tomorrow I'm going on a trip to Mexico.)
La clase va de excursión al museo el viernes.
(The class is going on a field trip to the museum on Friday.)
Mis abuelos se van de crucero por el Mediterráneo.
(My grandparents are going on a Mediterranean cruise.)
Se fueron de luna de miel a Italia.
(They went on their honeymoon to Italy.)
Other outings

Ir de visita means going to visit someone. Ir de caza means going hunting. Similar everyday expressions include ir de pesca (go fishing), ir de tapas and ir de copas (go out for tapas or drinks).

El domingo vamos de visita a casa de mi tía.
(On Sunday we're going to visit my aunt.)
Mi tío va de caza todos los otoños.
(My uncle goes hunting every fall.)
Watch out
No gerund

Ir comprando exists, but it means to keep buying things bit by bit. It does not mean to go shopping. Use ir de compras.

No article

Say ir de excursión, not ir de una excursión. If you want an article, change the structure: hacer una excursión, hacer un viaje.

It's a set list, not a general rule

Many English go + -ing phrases use a verb in Spanish instead: ir a nadar (go swimming), ir a esquiar (go skiing), salir a correr (go running). Learn the ir de expressions as fixed phrases.

Being on it

The same nouns combine with estar de to say you are currently on the outing.

Mi jefe está de vacaciones hasta el lunes.
(My boss is on vacation until Monday.)
Summary

For leisure outings, Spanish says ir de + noun where English says go + -ing or go on + noun: ir de compras, ir de camping, ir de fiesta, ir de paseo, ir de vacaciones, ir de viaje. Don't use an article or a gerund. Treat the expressions as a fixed set, because activities like swimming or skiing use ir a + infinitive instead.