Shopping English Phrases

Quick Answer: The most useful shopping English phrases are I'm just looking, thanks; Do you have this in a medium?; Can I try this on?; How much is this?; Can I pay by card? and I'd like to return this, please. Start requests with Can I or Could I and end with please, and you will sound polite in any shop.

Key takeaways

• Answer Can I help you? with I'm just looking, thanks if you want to browse alone.
• Ask for sizes and colors with Do you have this in + size or color: Do you have this in a large? Do you have this in black?
• Fit is about size (It doesn't fit), suit is about style or color (Blue suits you).
• Use How much is this? for one item and How much are these? for plural items like shoes or jeans.
• A refund gives your money back, an exchange swaps the item, and store credit is a voucher for the same shop.
• Several words differ between UK and US English: till and register, fitting room and dressing room, basket and cart.

Shopping vocabulary

Word	Meaning
shop assistant (UK) / sales clerk (US)	the person who helps you
cashier	the person at the till or register
checkout / till (UK) / register (US)	where you pay
fitting room (UK) / dressing room (US)	where you try on clothes
receipt	the paper that proves you paid
sale	a period with lower prices
discount	a reduction in price
refund	money given back
exchange	swapping an item
bargain	something cheap and good value
aisle	a walkway between shelves in a supermarket

What do you say when you enter a shop?

The assistant: "Hi, can I help you?" or "Are you looking for anything in particular?"

You:

• "I'm just looking, thanks."
• "Yes, I'm looking for a winter jacket."
• "Where can I find the shoes?"
• "Do you sell phone chargers?"

Sizes, colors and trying on

• "Do you have this in a small / medium / large?"
• "Do you have this in a size 38?"
• "Do you have it in black?"
• "Can I try this on?"
• "Where are the fitting rooms?"
• "It's too big / too small / too tight / too long."
• "It fits perfectly."
• "It suits you." (it looks good on you)

Fit is about size; suit is about style or color. "The shoes fit, but the color doesn't suit me."

Sizes differ between countries. A UK shoe size 7 is not the same as a US size 7, so ask "What's this in European sizes?"

How do you ask about the price?

• "How much is this?" / "How much are these?"
• "How much does it cost?"
• "Is this on sale?"
• "Is there a discount for students?"
• "Do you have anything cheaper?"
• "That's a bit expensive for me."

Signs you might see:

• 50% off - half price
• Buy one, get one free (BOGOF in the UK)
• Clearance - final sale of old stock
• Prices include tax or plus tax (in the US, sales tax is often added at the register)

To understand prices out loud, see numbers in English.

Paying

At the checkout:

• Cashier: "Cash or card?" - "Card, please."
• "Can I pay by card?" / "Do you take credit cards?"
• "Can I pay with my phone?"
• "Do you need a bag?" - "No thanks, I have one."
• "Could I have a receipt, please?"
• "Could you gift wrap it, please?"

The card machine may ask you to tap, insert or enter your PIN.

How do you return or exchange something?

• "I'd like to return this, please."
• "It doesn't fit."
• "It's damaged / broken."
• "Can I exchange it for a different size?"
• "Can I get a refund?"
• "Here's the receipt."
• "What's your return policy?"

The assistant might say: "Do you have the receipt?", "We can offer store credit" (a voucher for the same shop) or "Sale items can't be returned."

At the supermarket and market

• "Excuse me, where can I find the rice?" - "Aisle 5."
• "Do you have any fresh bread left?"
• "Could I have half a kilo of tomatoes, please?"
• "That's all, thanks."

At a street market you may be able to haggle (negotiate the price): "Can you do it for 20?" This is normal in some markets, but not in regular shops.

For food words, see food and drink vocabulary.

Shopping online

• add to cart (US) / add to basket (UK)
• checkout - the payment page
• shipping (US) / delivery (UK)
• tracking number - code to follow your package
• out of stock - not available now
• "My order hasn't arrived yet."

Sample dialogue

• Assistant: Hi there, can I help you?
• You: Yes, do you have this shirt in a medium?
• Assistant: Let me check. Yes, here you are.
• You: Can I try it on?
• Assistant: Sure, the fitting rooms are at the back.
• You: (later) It fits well. How much is it?
• Assistant: It's 35 dollars, but it's 20% off today.
• You: Great, I'll take it. Can I pay by card?
• Assistant: Of course. Would you like a bag?
• You: No thanks. Could I have the receipt?

Common mistakes

Wrong	Right	Why
How much it costs?	How much does it cost?	Questions need does
Can I prove this?	Can I try this on?	Prove means show something is true (Turkish speakers: prova is try on)
This shirt is very suitable for me.	This shirt suits me.	Suit is a verb here
Give me a bag.	Could I have a bag, please?	Commands sound rude to a cashier
I'll buy it.	I'll take it.	Both are correct, but I'll take it is more natural
Can I pay with card?	Can I pay by card?	By card, in cash, with my phone

Quick quiz

Fill in the missing word.

1. Can I ___ this on?
2. It doesn't ___. It's too small.
3. I'd like to ___ this, please. Here's the receipt.
4. I'm just ___, thanks.

Answers: 1. try 2. fit 3. return 4. looking

Polite questions are the secret to good shopping English. Read how to make polite requests in English, and if you are preparing for a trip, see English for travel. Ready to practice? Start the free LearnLingo course and learn shopping phrases with audio and quick reviews.

People Also Ask

How do you ask for a different size in English?

Say Do you have this in a medium? or Do you have this in a bigger size? You can also ask Do you have this in blue? for a different color.

What does I'm just looking mean?

It is a polite way to tell a shop assistant that you do not need help right now. You can add thanks to sound friendly: I'm just looking, thanks.

How do I return something in a shop?

Bring the item and receipt to the counter and say I'd like to return this, please. Give a short reason, like It doesn't fit, and ask if you can get a refund or an exchange.

What is the difference between a refund and an exchange?

A refund means you get your money back. An exchange means you swap the item for a different one, such as another size or color.

Related Reading

• Numbers in English: Counting, Ordinals and Prices
• How to Make Polite Requests in English
• English for Travel: The Essential Guide
• Food and Drink Vocabulary