Shopping English: Dialogues and Vocabulary

Why Learn Shopping English?

Shopping is one of the most common everyday activities. Whether you are buying groceries, trying on clothes, or looking for a gift, you need to communicate with shop assistants and understand signs and prices. This lesson will give you the vocabulary and confidence to shop comfortably in English.

Essential Shopping Vocabulary

Types of Shops

Money and Payment

• Price - how much something costs
• Receipt - the paper that shows what you bought and how much you paid
• Change - the money you get back when you pay more than the price
• Cash - physical money (coins and notes)
• Credit card / Debit card - plastic cards for paying electronically
• Contactless - tapping your card or phone to pay
• Discount - a reduction in price
• Sale - when a shop reduces prices for a limited time
• Bargain - something that is very good value for the price

Clothing Vocabulary

• Size - small (S), medium (M), large (L), extra-large (XL)
• Fitting room / Changing room - the place where you try on clothes
• Try on - to put on clothes to see if they fit
• Fit - when clothes are the right size for you
• Tight - too small, not comfortable
• Loose - too big, not close to the body
• Suit - to look good on someone ("That color suits you.")

Useful Phrases

Asking for Help

• "Excuse me, can you help me?"
• "I'm looking for..."
• "Do you have this in a different size/color?"
• "Where can I find the...?"
• "Could you show me...?"

Asking about Price

• "How much is this?"
• "How much does this cost?"
• "What's the price of this?"
• "Is this on sale?"
• "Do you have anything cheaper?"

In a Clothing Store

• "Can I try this on?"
• "Where are the fitting rooms?"
• "Do you have this in a size medium?"
• "This is too big/small. Do you have a smaller/larger one?"
• "I'll take it." (when you decide to buy)
• "I'm just looking, thanks." (when you don't want help)

Paying

• "Can I pay by card?"
• "Do you accept contactless?"
• "I'd like to pay in cash."
• "Can I have a receipt, please?"
• "Could I have a bag, please?"

Returning Items

• "I'd like to return this."
• "I'd like to exchange this for a different size."
• "I have the receipt."
• "This doesn't fit." / "It's broken." / "It doesn't work."
• "Can I get a refund?"

Shopping Dialogues

Dialogue 1: At a Clothing Store

Shop Assistant: Good afternoon! Can I help you? Customer: Yes, please. I'm looking for a winter jacket. Shop Assistant: Sure! We have jackets over here. What size are you? Customer: I think I'm a medium. Shop Assistant: Here's a nice one in medium. Would you like to try it on? Customer: Yes, please. Where are the fitting rooms? Shop Assistant: They're just over there, on the left.

(The customer tries on the jacket.)

Customer: I like it, but it's a bit tight. Do you have it in a large? Shop Assistant: Let me check... Yes, here you go. Customer: This one fits perfectly. How much is it? Shop Assistant: It's $89. But it's 20% off today, so it's $71.20. Customer: Great, I'll take it. Can I pay by card? Shop Assistant: Of course. Would you like a bag? Customer: Yes, please. Thank you!

Dialogue 2: At the Supermarket

Customer: Excuse me, where can I find the pasta? Employee: It's in aisle 5, next to the rice. Customer: Thank you. And do you have any fresh basil? Employee: Yes, the fresh herbs are in the produce section, by the vegetables. Customer: Great, thanks!

(At the checkout)

Cashier: Did you find everything okay? Customer: Yes, thank you. Cashier: Do you have a loyalty card? Customer: No, I don't. Cashier: That'll be $23.45. Cash or card? Customer: Card, please. Cashier: Here's your receipt. Have a nice day! Customer: You too, thanks!

Dialogue 3: At a Market

Customer: Hi! How much are the strawberries? Vendor: They're $4 a box. Customer: Can I have two boxes, please? Vendor: Sure! Anything else? Customer: Yes, I'll take some of those tomatoes. How much per kilo? Vendor: $3 a kilo. Customer: One kilo, please. Vendor: Here you go. That's $11 altogether. Customer: Here's $15. Vendor: And here's $4 change. Thanks!

Shopping Signs You Should Know

Numbers and Prices

When reading prices, you say the currency, then the numbers:

• $15.99 = "fifteen dollars and ninety-nine cents" or just "fifteen ninety-nine"
• $7.50 = "seven fifty" or "seven dollars fifty"
• $100 = "a hundred dollars" or "one hundred dollars"
• $3.25 = "three twenty-five" or "three dollars and twenty-five cents"

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: "How much is it cost?" instead of "How much does it cost?"

• Wrong: How much is it cost?
• Correct: How much does it cost? (or: How much is it?)

Mistake 2: "I want to try it" instead of "I want to try it on"

• "Try" means to attempt something. "Try on" means to put on clothing to see if it fits.
• Correct: Can I try this on?

Mistake 3: "I will take this" when you are not buying

• "I'll take it" means you want to BUY it. If you are just looking, say: "I'm just looking, thanks."

Mistake 4: Forgetting the article

• Wrong: I need bag.
• Correct: I need a bag.

Practice Tips

1. Practice prices: Look at an online store in English. Read the prices out loud.
2. Role-play: Practice the dialogues above with a friend. Take turns being the customer and the shop assistant.
3. Watch shopping scenes in English movies or TV shows. Pay attention to the phrases used.
4. Make a shopping list in English next time you go to the supermarket. Write the items and try to think about what you would say.
5. Shop online in English: Change the language of your favorite online store to English and practice navigating the site.