Shopping

Shopping is an integral part of daily life and feeling comfortable communicating in English while shopping can enhance your overall experience. Whether you’re visiting a local deli to pick up fresh produce, exploring the latest fashion trends on the high street, or navigating the aisles of a supermarket, knowing the right words and expressions will empower you to communicate effectively with shop staff and fellow shoppers.

There are lots of times when you might need to communicate while shopping, such as asking for assistance and discussing product details, making payments at the till and expressing preferences.

Whether you’re planning a grocery run, heading on a shopping spree or simply browsing for essentials, our shopping vocabulary can help you shop with confidence in English-speaking environments.

 

English for Shopping

When shopping for food or for clothes you will need certain words and phrases to communicate with shop assistants, to ask questions and pay for your goods.

Explore our lists of shopping vocabulary below for useful phrases for buying items, asking for information, returning goods and other common shopping-related activities.

Using English when shopping for food

General food shopping vocabulary

Food shopping

shop, store, corner shop, supermarket

tea, coffee, squash, juice, cordial

groceries, fresh produce, frozen food, cheese counter

meat section, chilled cabinet, frozen foods, dairy

fishmonger, butcher, baker, green grocer

Checkout, cashier, basket, trolley, carrier bag

Queue, till, packing, loyalty card

meat, fish, pork, ham, bacon, spare rib, beef, braising steak, sirloin, rump, chicken, turkey

goose, lamb, fillet, pork chop, sausages, burger

cod, haddock, trout, sardines, tuna

breakfast cereals, fruit juice, bread, yoghurt

dairy, eggs, free range, milk, skimmed milk, semi-skimmed milk, whole milk

food shopping vocabulary - eggs carton

A carton of eggs – image source

a pound, half a pound, seven ounces, a kilo, a dozen, half a dozen

diced, sliced, chopped, peeled, shredded

grilled, baked, steamed, fried, poached, boiled, roast

marinated, a marinade

stew, casserole, stir fry, roast

shopping vocabulary

Phrases you may want to use
Can I have another carrier bag, please? I’d like to use this voucher
Could you tell me where the meat section is? This fruit is bruised
I’ll have half a kilo of apples, please Can I pay by credit card?
Could you prepare the fish for me, please? Where are the trolleys?
Could I have some help packing? Where is the fresh produce?
Phrases you may hear
How much would you like? Do you have a loyalty card?
Are you being served? That will be ten pounds fifty pence, please
Do you need any help packing? That’s ten pounds fifty
Please enter your pin Would you like that sliced?
Supermarket shopping vocabulary

Fresh produce section in a supermarket – Image source

Phrases you may see
Baskets only Queue here
Express checkout Self checkout
Cash only Best before date
10 items or less Use by date / Sell by date
Buy one get one free (BOGOF) 3 for the price of 2
Washed and ready to eat Buy one get one half price
Pre-washed Open this way up
Free range Dairy section
 

Using English when shopping for clothes

General clothes shopping vocabulary

Clothes shopping

department store, boutique, shoe shop, clothes shop

high fashion, trendy, vintage, retro

skirt, dress, trousers, jeans, jumper, cardigan top, tights, belt, suit, tie

shoes, boots, sandals, slippers, high heels, flat shoes, wedges

coat, jacket, gloves, mittens, hat, scarf

racks of clothes, piles of clothes, shelves of clothes

socks, underwear, bra, pants, knickers, thermal underwear, vest, slip, camisole, tights

womenswear, menswear, childrenswear

Clothes shopping vocabulary - mannequins

Mannequins in a shop window – image source

small (S), medium (M), large (L), extra small (XS), extra large (XL), petite, tall

big, loose, baggy, long, small, tight, skimpy, short

refund, return, exchange, credit note

sale, discount, money off

shop assistant, till

fitting room, changing room

cotton, modal, denim, linen, silk, satin, wool, rayon, polyester, nylon, lycra

 
Phrases you may want to use
Can I try this on please? This doesn’t fit.
Can I try this in a different/bigger/smaller size? It is too big/loose/small/tight/short/long
Can you tell me where the fitting/changing room is? Do you accept returns?
I am size… Could I exchange this please?
I take a size … Can I get a refund?
What is this made from? What time does this shop close?
Is this item in the sale? Is there any money off this item?
Phrases you may hear
Would you like to try it on? That colour suits you
What size are you / what size do you take? Would you like to try a different size?
How does that feel? Is that a good fit?
Any good? You can use the fitting room
 
Phrases you may see
Changing room / Fitting room Machine washable
Sale / Clearance No tumble drying
Cash and wrap / Pay here Dry clean only
Return within 28 days for a full refund No refunds / returns
This does not affect your statutory rights No exchanges
Maternity wear Exchange only

Share your thoughts on shopping vocabulary

Have you seen any vocabulary related to shopping that confused you?

What are you thoughts on shopping in an English-speaking country?

What are the  differences or similarities with your own shopping experiences in your own country?

Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

 

5 thoughts on “Shopping

  1. 1. no
    2. who have a very extensive but easy to understand vocabulary
    3. is that if we know how to express ourselves well and the correct terms we can get them to understand us well.

  2. 1- yes, tights
    2- I think it’s great only if the person can speak English, if not is bad because that person don’t understand the language.
    3- My experience in my own purchase of clothes in my country are good because I learned a lot, I knew how to do it and I can go alone without getting lost.

  3. 1-at the moment, no.
    2-They are very interesting and compulsive since everything catches your attention, everything has a different smell and is very funny.
    3-the similarities is in the size and the others is very funny.

  4. 1. No
    2. I think is good. If you can speak English you have better communication with the seller.
    3. They haven’t been bad experiences but they could be better.

  5. 1- yes
    2- I think it’s great only if the person can speak English
    3- experience in my own purchase of clothes in my country is greatx

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