📚 Bookstores

⏱ 16 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for visiting bookstores and shopping for school supplies. You'll learn how to talk about books, authors, genres, notebooks, pens, pencils, dictionaries, and how to ask for help finding what you need. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Bookstore Vocabulary

📚 Bookstore
a shop that sells books
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Librería
🇫🇷 French: Librairie
🇩🇪 German: Buchhandlung
🇮🇹 Italian: Libreria
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Livraria
📖 Book
pages with writing bound together
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Libro
🇫🇷 French: Livre
🇩🇪 German: Buch
🇮🇹 Italian: Libro
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Livro
📰 Magazine
a thin publication with articles and pictures
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Revista
🇫🇷 French: Magazine / Revue
🇩🇪 German: Zeitschrift
🇮🇹 Italian: Rivista
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Revista
📘 Dictionary
a book that explains the meaning of words
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Diccionario
🇫🇷 French: Dictionnaire
🇩🇪 German: Wörterbuch
🇮🇹 Italian: Dizionario
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dicionário
✍️ Author
the person who wrote a book
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Autor / Autora
🇫🇷 French: Auteur / Autrice
🇩🇪 German: Autor / Autorin
🇮🇹 Italian: Autore / Autrice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Autor / Autora
📑 Page
one side of a sheet in a book
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Página
🇫🇷 French: Page
🇩🇪 German: Seite
🇮🇹 Italian: Pagina
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Página

🟡 School & Writing Supplies Vocabulary

📓 Notebook
a book of blank pages for writing
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cuaderno
🇫🇷 French: Cahier
🇩🇪 German: Heft / Notizbuch
🇮🇹 Italian: Quaderno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Caderno
✏️ Pencil
a writing tool you can erase
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lápiz
🇫🇷 French: Crayon
🇩🇪 German: Bleistift
🇮🇹 Italian: Matita
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lápis
🖊️ Pen
a writing tool that uses ink
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Bolígrafo
🇫🇷 French: Stylo
🇩🇪 German: Kugelschreiber
🇮🇹 Italian: Penna
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Caneta
🧽 Eraser
something used to remove pencil marks
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Goma de borrar
🇫🇷 French: Gomme
🇩🇪 German: Radiergummi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gomma
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Borracha
📏 Ruler
a straight tool used to measure or draw lines
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Regla
🇫🇷 French: Règle
🇩🇪 German: Lineal
🇮🇹 Italian: Righello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Régua
🎒 Backpack
a bag you wear on your back
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mochila
🇫🇷 French: Sac à dos
🇩🇪 German: Rucksack
🇮🇹 Italian: Zaino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mochila

🔵 Books & Reading Vocabulary

📚 Novel
a long story book
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Novela
🇫🇷 French: Roman
🇩🇪 German: Roman
🇮🇹 Italian: Romanzo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Romance / Novela
🧒 Children's book
a book written for young readers
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Libro infantil
🇫🇷 French: Livre pour enfants
🇩🇪 German: Kinderbuch
🇮🇹 Italian: Libro per bambini
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Livro infantil
📖 Textbook
a book used for studying a school subject
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Libro de texto
🇫🇷 French: Manuel scolaire
🇩🇪 German: Lehrbuch
🇮🇹 Italian: Libro di testo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Manual escolar / Livro de texto
📕 Paperback
a book with a soft paper cover
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Libro de tapa blanda
🇫🇷 French: Livre de poche / Broché
🇩🇪 German: Taschenbuch
🇮🇹 Italian: Libro tascabile / Brossura
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Livro de capa mole
📗 Hardcover
a book with a hard, stiff cover
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Libro de tapa dura
🇫🇷 French: Livre relié / Cartonné
🇩🇪 German: Gebundenes Buch / Hardcover
🇮🇹 Italian: Libro cartonato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Livro de capa dura
📚 Book section
an area of the store for a type of book
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Sección de libros
🇫🇷 French: Rayon de livres
🇩🇪 German: Bücherabteilung
🇮🇹 Italian: Sezione libri
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Secção de livros

🧠 Talking About Books & Supplies

💡 Use looking for to explain what kind of book or item you're trying to find.
I'm looking for a history book.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Estoy buscando un libro de historia.
🇫🇷 Je cherche un livre d'histoire.
🇩🇪 Ich suche ein Geschichtsbuch.
🇮🇹 Sto cercando un libro di storia.
🇵🇹 Estou à procura de um livro de história.
I'm looking for a Spanish dictionary.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Busco un diccionario de español.
🇫🇷 Je cherche un dictionnaire d'espagnol.
🇩🇪 Ich suche ein Spanisch-Wörterbuch.
🇮🇹 Cerco un dizionario di spagnolo.
🇵🇹 Procuro um dicionário de espanhol.
💡 Use have / do you have to ask whether a bookstore has a particular book, edition, or school supply.
Do you have books by this author?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tienen libros de este autor?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous des livres de cet auteur ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie Bücher von diesem Autor?
🇮🇹 Avete libri di questo autore?
🇵🇹 Têm livros deste autor?
Do you have smaller notebooks?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tienen cuadernos más pequeños?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous des cahiers plus petits ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie kleinere Hefte?
🇮🇹 Avete quaderni più piccoli?
🇵🇹 Têm cadernos mais pequenos?
💡 Use need when talking about books or supplies you need for school, work, or another purpose.
I need a notebook for my class.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito un cuaderno para mi clase.
🇫🇷 J'ai besoin d'un cahier pour mon cours.
🇩🇪 Ich brauche ein Heft für meinen Unterricht.
🇮🇹 Mi serve un quaderno per la mia lezione.
🇵🇹 Preciso de um caderno para a minha aula.
I need to buy pencils and pens.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito comprar lápices y bolígrafos.
🇫🇷 J'ai besoin d'acheter des crayons et des stylos.
🇩🇪 Ich muss Bleistifte und Kugelschreiber kaufen.
🇮🇹 Devo comprare matite e penne.
🇵🇹 Preciso de comprar lápis e canetas.

❓ Useful Bookstore Questions

📖 Where can I find history books?
asking the location of history books
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde puedo encontrar libros de historia?
🇫🇷 French: Où puis-je trouver des livres d'histoire ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo finde ich Geschichtsbücher?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove posso trovare libri di storia?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde posso encontrar livros de história?
✍️ Do you have any books by this author?
asking if the store sells that writer's books
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tienen algún libro de esta autora?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous des livres de cette auteure ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie Bücher von dieser Autorin?
🇮🇹 Italian: Avete libri di questa autrice?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Têm algum livro desta autora?
📚 Which section are the novels in?
asking which part of the store has novels
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿En qué sección están las novelas?
🇫🇷 French: Dans quelle section se trouvent les romans ?
🇩🇪 German: In welcher Abteilung sind die Romane?
🇮🇹 Italian: In quale sezione sono i romanzi?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Em que secção estão os romances?
📘 Do you have this dictionary in a more recent edition?
asking for a newer version of the dictionary
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tienen este diccionario en una edición más reciente?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous ce dictionnaire dans une édition plus récente ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie dieses Wörterbuch in einer neueren Ausgabe?
🇮🇹 Italian: Avete questo dizionario in un'edizione più recente?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Têm este dicionário numa edição mais recente?
📓 Where are the notebooks and pens?
asking where school supplies are kept
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde están los cuadernos y los bolígrafos?
🇫🇷 French: Où sont les cahiers et les stylos ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo sind die Hefte und Kugelschreiber?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove sono i quaderni e le penne?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde estão os cadernos e as canetas?
📖 Do you have this book in paperback?
asking for the soft-cover version
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tienen este libro en tapa blanda?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous ce livre en format broché ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie dieses Buch als Taschenbuch?
🇮🇹 Italian: Avete questo libro in brossura?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Têm este livro de capa mole?

💬 Common Bookstore & School Supply Phrases

📖 I'm looking for a novel to read during my vacation.
you want a story book for your trip
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy buscando una novela para leer durante las vacaciones.
🇫🇷 French: Je cherche un roman à lire pendant les vacances.
🇩🇪 German: Ich suche einen Roman zum Lesen während des Urlaubs.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sto cercando un romanzo da leggere durante le vacanze.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estou à procura de um romance para ler durante as férias.
📘 I need a Spanish dictionary to use in class.
you need a word book for Spanish class
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesito un diccionario de español para usarlo en clase.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai besoin d'un dictionnaire d'espagnol pour l'utiliser en cours.
🇩🇪 German: Ich brauche ein Spanisch-Wörterbuch für den Unterricht.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi serve un dizionario di spagnolo da usare in classe.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso de um dicionário de espanhol para usar na aula.
📓 I'm going to buy several notebooks for the new school year.
you plan to buy more than one notebook
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Voy a comprar varios cuadernos para el nuevo año escolar.
🇫🇷 French: Je vais acheter plusieurs cahiers pour la nouvelle année scolaire.
🇩🇪 German: Ich werde mehrere Hefte für das neue Schuljahr kaufen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Comprerò diversi quaderni per il nuovo anno scolastico.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vou comprar vários cadernos para o novo ano letivo.
📚 I can't find the book I need, so I'm going to ask for help.
you will ask a clerk to help you find it
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: No encuentro el libro que necesito, así que voy a pedir ayuda.
🇫🇷 French: Je ne trouve pas le livre dont j'ai besoin, alors je vais demander de l'aide.
🇩🇪 German: Ich finde das Buch, das ich brauche, nicht, also werde ich um Hilfe bitten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Non trovo il libro di cui ho bisogno, quindi chiederò aiuto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Não encontro o livro de que preciso, por isso vou pedir ajuda.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Looking for a book
asking where an author's books are
A: Excuse me, I'm looking for a book by this author.
B: Of course. Her books are in the novels section.
A: Thank you. Where is that section?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Disculpe, estoy buscando un libro de esta autora.
🇪🇸 B: Claro. Sus libros están en la sección de novelas.
🇪🇸 A: Gracias. ¿Dónde está esa sección?

🇫🇷 A: Excusez-moi, je cherche un livre de cette auteure.
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr. Ses livres sont dans la section des romans.
🇫🇷 A: Merci. Où se trouve cette section ?

🇩🇪 A: Entschuldigung, ich suche ein Buch von dieser Autorin.
🇩🇪 B: Natürlich. Ihre Bücher sind in der Romanabteilung.
🇩🇪 A: Danke. Wo ist diese Abteilung?

🇮🇹 A: Scusi, sto cercando un libro di questa autrice.
🇮🇹 B: Certo. I suoi libri sono nella sezione romanzi.
🇮🇹 A: Grazie. Dov'è quella sezione?

🇵🇹 A: Com licença, estou à procura de um livro desta autora.
🇵🇹 B: Claro. Os livros dela estão na secção de romances.
🇵🇹 A: Obrigado. Onde fica essa secção?
Buying school supplies
listing notebooks, pencils, and a pen
A: I need to buy a few things for school.
B: What do you need?
A: Two notebooks, some pencils, and a blue pen.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Necesito comprar algunas cosas para la escuela.
🇪🇸 B: ¿Qué necesitas?
🇪🇸 A: Dos cuadernos, unos lápices y un bolígrafo azul.

🇫🇷 A: J'ai besoin d'acheter quelques affaires pour l'école.
🇫🇷 B: De quoi as-tu besoin ?
🇫🇷 A: Deux cahiers, des crayons et un stylo bleu.

🇩🇪 A: Ich muss ein paar Sachen für die Schule kaufen.
🇩🇪 B: Was brauchst du?
🇩🇪 A: Zwei Hefte, ein paar Bleistifte und einen blauen Kugelschreiber.

🇮🇹 A: Devo comprare alcune cose per la scuola.
🇮🇹 B: Di cosa hai bisogno?
🇮🇹 A: Due quaderni, delle matite e una penna blu.

🇵🇹 A: Preciso de comprar algumas coisas para a escola.
🇵🇹 B: Do que precisas?
🇵🇹 A: Dois cadernos, uns lápis e uma caneta azul.

📝 Example Sentences

📚 I spent almost an hour exploring the bookstore because there were many books I wanted to read.
you stayed a long time looking at books
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pasé casi una hora explorando la librería porque había muchos libros que quería leer.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai passé presque une heure à explorer la librairie parce qu'il y avait beaucoup de livres que je voulais lire.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe fast eine Stunde in der Buchhandlung verbracht, weil es viele Bücher gab, die ich lesen wollte.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho passato quasi un'ora a esplorare la libreria perché c'erano molti libri che volevo leggere.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Passei quase uma hora a explorar a livraria porque havia muitos livros que queria ler.
📖 I found the novel I was looking for on a shelf near the entrance.
the book was close to the door
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Encontré la novela que buscaba en una estantería cerca de la entrada.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai trouvé le roman que je cherchais sur une étagère près de l'entrée.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe den Roman, den ich gesucht habe, in einem Regal in der Nähe des Eingangs gefunden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho trovato il romanzo che cercavo su uno scaffale vicino all'ingresso.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Encontrei o romance que procurava numa prateleira perto da entrada.
📘 I bought a new edition of the dictionary to use during my Spanish classes.
you bought a newer dictionary for class
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compré una edición nueva del diccionario para usarla durante mis clases de español.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai acheté une nouvelle édition du dictionnaire pour l'utiliser pendant mes cours d'espagnol.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe eine neue Ausgabe des Wörterbuchs gekauft, um sie in meinem Spanischunterricht zu verwenden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho comprato una nuova edizione del dizionario da usare durante le mie lezioni di spagnolo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comprei uma edição nova do dicionário para a usar durante as minhas aulas de espanhol.
✏️ Before starting the course, I packed my backpack with notebooks, pencils, and pens.
you put school supplies in your bag
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Antes de empezar el curso, preparé mi mochila con cuadernos, lápices y bolígrafos.
🇫🇷 French: Avant de commencer le cours, j'ai préparé mon sac à dos avec des cahiers, des crayons et des stylos.
🇩🇪 German: Bevor ich den Kurs begonnen habe, habe ich meinen Rucksack mit Heften, Bleistiften und Kugelschreibern gepackt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Prima di iniziare il corso, ho preparato lo zaino con quaderni, matite e penne.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Antes de começar o curso, preparei a minha mochila com cadernos, lápis e canetas.
📕 I preferred to buy the book in paperback because it was lighter and easier to carry.
the soft cover was easier to take with you
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Preferí comprar el libro en tapa blanda porque era más ligero y fácil de llevar.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai préféré acheter le livre en format broché parce qu'il était plus léger et plus facile à transporter.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe das Buch lieber als Taschenbuch gekauft, weil es leichter und einfacher zu tragen war.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho preferito comprare il libro in brossura perché era più leggero e facile da portare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preferi comprar o livro de capa mole porque era mais leve e fácil de transportar.
🎒 I checked my school supply list to make sure I wasn't missing anything.
you reviewed the list so nothing was forgotten
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Revisé mi lista de útiles escolares para asegurarme de que no me faltara nada.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai vérifié ma liste de fournitures scolaires pour m'assurer que je ne manquais de rien.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe meine Liste mit Schulmaterialien überprüft, um sicherzustellen, dass mir nichts fehlt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho controllato la mia lista di materiale scolastico per assicurarmi di non mancare di niente.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Verifiquei a minha lista de material escolar para ter a certeza de que não me faltava nada.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the best word or phrase from the lesson.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%