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Phrasebook

English Phrases at the Supermarket

Grocery shopping abroad is easier when you can ask where things are, order at the deli counter and handle the checkout without stress. These phrases cover a full trip to the supermarket.

34 phrases · By LearnLingo Team · Updated

Tap to hear a phrase. Levels follow the CEFR scale. American English is the default; British variants are noted.

Finding products

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Excuse me, where can I find the eggs?

A1
Affedersiniz, yumurtaları nerede bulabilirim?
  • Aisle five, next to the milk.
  • They're in the dairy section.

Which aisle is the rice in?

A2

An aisle is the walkway between shelves. The "s" is silent: it sounds like "I'll".

Pirinç hangi reyonda?
  • Aisle seven, with the pasta.

Do you have any oat milk?

A2
Yulaf sütünüz var mı?
  • Yes, it's in the fridge by the dairy section.
  • Sorry, we're out of it right now.

Do you sell batteries?

A1
Pil satıyor musunuz?
  • Yes, near the checkout.
  • No, sorry, we don't.

I can't find the flour.

A1
Unu bulamıyorum.
  • Let me show you.
  • It's in the baking aisle.

When will you get more in?

B1

Ask this when a product is sold out.

Ne zaman yenisi gelir?
  • We get deliveries on Tuesdays.
  • It should be back tomorrow.

Is this on sale?

A2

UK: "Is this on offer?" Note that "for sale" just means "available to buy".

Bu indirimde mi?
  • Yes, it's buy one, get one free.
  • No, the sale ended yesterday.

At the deli, meat and fresh counters

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Could I have 200 grams of cheddar, please?

A2
200 gram çedar alabilir miyim, lütfen?
  • Sure. It's a little over. Is that okay?
  • Anything else?

Can I get half a pound of sliced turkey?

B1

US delis use pounds. In the UK and most of Europe, ask in grams.

Yarım libre dilimlenmiş hindi alabilir miyim?
  • Thin or thick slices?
  • Anything else for you?

Could you slice it thinly, please?

B1
İnce dilimleyebilir misiniz, lütfen?
  • No problem.

Is the fish fresh today?

A2
Balık bugün taze mi?
  • Yes, it came in this morning.

I think I'm next.

A2

At busy counters you may need to take a number from a ticket machine.

Sanırım sıra bende.
  • Go ahead.
  • What can I get you?

Where do I weigh the fruit?

A2

In many US and UK stores, the cashier weighs fruit and vegetables at the checkout.

Meyveyi nerede tartıyorum?
  • The cashier will weigh it at the checkout.
  • There's a scale over there.

Are these ripe?

A2
Bunlar olgun mu?
  • Those are ready to eat today.
  • Give them a couple of days.

Labels, allergies and choices

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

What's the expiration date on this?

B1

UK: "use-by date" or "best-before date".

Bunun son kullanma tarihi ne?
  • It's good until the 20th.

Is this gluten-free?

A2
Bu glütensiz mi?
  • It should say on the label.

Does this contain nuts?

B1

Allergy information is usually printed on the back of the package.

Bunun içinde kuruyemiş var mı?
  • Let me check the label.
  • It's made in a factory that also handles nuts.

Is this halal?

A2
Bu helal mi?
  • Yes, it has the halal logo.
  • I'm not sure. Let me ask my manager.

Is there a cheaper one?

A2

The supermarket's own label is the "store brand" in the US and "own brand" in the UK.

Daha ucuzu var mı?
  • The store brand is cheaper.

How much is this? It doesn't have a price tag.

A2
Bu ne kadar? Etiketi yok.
  • Let me scan it for you.

At the checkout

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Is this line open?

A2

UK: "Is this till open?"

Bu kasa açık mı?
  • Yes, come on over.
  • Sorry, I'm closing. Try register three.

Go ahead, you only have a few things.

B1
Siz geçin, sizin az şeyiniz var.
  • Oh, thanks so much!

Can I get a bag, please?

A1

Many stores charge for bags, so people often bring their own.

Poşet alabilir miyim, lütfen?
  • Paper or plastic?
  • Sure. There is a small charge for bags.

I brought my own bag.

A2
Kendi çantamı getirdim.
  • Great, thanks.

Can I pay by card?

A1
Kartla ödeyebilir miyim?
  • Sure, tap or insert.
  • Card is fine.

I don't have a loyalty card.

B1

US stores usually say "rewards card" or "club card". UK stores say "loyalty card".

Müşteri kartım yok.
  • No problem. Would you like to sign up?

Could I get cash back?

B1

Cash back means taking some cash from your account when you pay with a debit card.

Kasadan nakit çekebilir miyim?
  • Sure, how much would you like?

Could I have the receipt, please?

A1
Fişi alabilir miyim, lütfen?
  • It's in the bag.
  • Here you go.

I think you charged me twice for this.

B1
Sanırım bunu iki kez okuttunuz.
  • Let me check. Yes, you're right. Sorry about that.

Self-checkout and problems

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

The self-checkout isn't working.

B1
Self servis kasa çalışmıyor.
  • I'll be right there.

It says 'unexpected item in the bagging area'.

B1

A common self-checkout message, especially in the UK. Wait for a staff member.

Ekranda "torbalama alanında beklenmeyen ürün" yazıyor.
  • Let me reset it for you.

This item won't scan.

A2
Bu ürün okutulamıyor.
  • Let me type in the code.

It needs an ID check.

B1

Alcohol at self-checkout needs a staff member to approve it.

Kimlik kontrolü gerekiyor.
  • Can I see some ID, please?

I'd like to return this. It was already open.

B1
Bunu iade etmek istiyorum. Zaten açılmıştı.
  • Do you have the receipt?
  • Sure, I'll get you a new one.

Sample dialogues

Looking for a product

Burak
Excuse me, do you have any tahini?
Affedersiniz, tahininiz var mı?
Employee
I think it's in aisle nine, with the international foods.
Sanırım dokuzuncu reyonda, dünya mutfağı ürünlerinin yanında.
Burak
I just looked there, but I couldn't find it.
Az önce baktım ama bulamadım.
Employee
Let me check for you. Sorry, we're out of it right now.
Bir bakayım. Üzgünüm, şu an kalmamış.
Burak
When will you get more in?
Ne zaman yenisi gelir?
Employee
We usually get deliveries on Thursdays.
Genelde perşembe günleri ürün geliyor.
Burak
Okay, I'll come back then. Thanks for checking.
Tamam, o zaman tekrar gelirim. Baktığınız için teşekkürler.

At the checkout

Cashier
Hi there. Did you find everything okay?
Merhaba. Aradığınız her şeyi bulabildiniz mi?
Ayşe
Yes, thanks.
Evet, teşekkürler.
Cashier
Do you have a rewards card with us?
Bizim müşteri kartımız sizde var mı?
Ayşe
No, I don't.
Hayır, yok.
Cashier
Do you need a bag?
Poşet ister misiniz?
Ayşe
No, I brought my own, thanks.
Hayır, kendiminkini getirdim, teşekkürler.
Cashier
Okay. Card or cash?
Tamam. Kart mı, nakit mi?
Ayşe
Card, please. Could I have the receipt too?
Kart, lütfen. Fişi de alabilir miyim?
Cashier
Sure, here you go. Have a good one!
Tabii, buyurun. İyi günler!

Common mistakes Turkish speakers make

Do you have breads?

Do you have any bread?

"Bread" is uncountable in English, like "rice", "milk" and "cheese". For one item, say "a loaf of bread".

Can I take a bag?

Can I get a bag?

Turkish "alabilir miyim" becomes "get" or "have" here. "Take" can sound like you will just take one without asking.

Where is the cash?

Where's the checkout?

Turkish "kasa" is the "checkout" or "register" (UK: "till"). "Cash" means money.

This product is finished.

You're out of this. / It's sold out.

Turkish says "bitti", but in English shops say "We're out of it" or "It's sold out".

Can you give me the bill?

Could I have the receipt, please?

The paper you get after paying in a shop is a "receipt". A "bill" is what you ask for in a restaurant or what you pay for electricity.

Quick quiz

Eight questions to check what you remember. Pick an answer to see if it is right.

  1. 1. You want to know where the pasta is. Which question is best?

  2. 2. Choose the correct sentence.

  3. 3. The place where you pay is the:

  4. 4. An employee says "We're out of it." This means:

  5. 5. In the UK, "Is this on offer?" means:

  6. 6. What is the US word for the UK "use-by date"?

  7. 7. Complete: "Could I ___ 300 grams of ham, please?"

  8. 8. "Cash back" at the checkout means:

0 of 8 answered

Show all answers
  1. Which aisle is the pasta in?
  2. I need two loaves of bread.
  3. checkout
  4. They don't have any left.
  5. Is this on sale?
  6. expiration date
  7. have
  8. taking cash from your account when you pay by card

See what the A2 English course covers, or test your level first.

People also ask

What is the difference between checkout, register and till?+

They all mean the place where you pay. "Checkout" is common everywhere, "register" is American and "till" is British. The person who works there is the "cashier".

Do I have to bag my own groceries?+

It depends on the store. In many US supermarkets someone may pack your bags, while in the UK and much of Europe you usually pack them yourself. Bringing your own bag is common everywhere.

What does "Paper or plastic?" mean?+

The cashier is asking which kind of bag you want. You can answer "Paper, please" or "I brought my own bag, thanks."

How do I ask if a product has an ingredient I can't eat?+

Ask "Does this contain nuts?" or "Is this gluten-free?" Staff may not know every product, so the label on the package is the most reliable source.

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