🏪 Convenience Stores

⏱ 16 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for shopping at convenience stores. You'll learn how to talk about drinks, snacks, bottled water, ice, basic necessities, store hours, and how to ask where items are or whether the store has what you need. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Convenience Store Vocabulary

🏪 Convenience store
a small store that sells everyday items quickly
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tienda de conveniencia
🇫🇷 French: Supérette / Dépanneur
🇩🇪 German: Convenience Store / Kiosk
🇮🇹 Italian: Minimarket / Negozio di prossimità
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Loja de conveniência
🥤 Drink
something you swallow to quench thirst
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Bebida
🇫🇷 French: Boisson
🇩🇪 German: Getränk
🇮🇹 Italian: Bevanda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bebida
🍫 Candy / Sweets
small sweet foods such as chocolate
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Dulces
🇫🇷 French: Bonbons / Sucreries
🇩🇪 German: Süßigkeiten
🇮🇹 Italian: Dolci / Caramelle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Doces
🍿 Snack
a small amount of food between meals
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Aperitivo
🇫🇷 French: Encas / Snack
🇩🇪 German: Snack
🇮🇹 Italian: Snack / Spuntino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lanche / Snack
💧 Bottled water
water sold in a closed bottle
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Agua embotellada
🇫🇷 French: Eau en bouteille
🇩🇪 German: Flaschenwasser
🇮🇹 Italian: Acqua in bottiglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Água engarrafada
🧊 Ice
frozen water used to keep things cold
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hielo
🇫🇷 French: Glace
🇩🇪 German: Eis
🇮🇹 Italian: Ghiaccio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gelo

🟡 Common Convenience Store Items

🥪 Sandwich
food between two pieces of bread
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Sándwich
🇫🇷 French: Sandwich
🇩🇪 German: Sandwich
🇮🇹 Italian: Panino / Sandwich
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sanduíche
☕ Coffee
a hot drink made from coffee beans
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Café
🇫🇷 French: Café
🇩🇪 German: Kaffee
🇮🇹 Italian: Caffè
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Café
🥤 Soft drink / Soda
a sweet cold drink with bubbles
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Refresco
🇫🇷 French: Soda / Boisson gazeuse
🇩🇪 German: Limonade / Erfrischungsgetränk
🇮🇹 Italian: Bibita / Soft drink
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Refrigerante
🍪 Cookies
small sweet baked snacks
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Galletas
🇫🇷 French: Biscuits
🇩🇪 German: Kekse
🇮🇹 Italian: Biscotti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bolachas / Biscoitos
🧻 Toilet paper
paper used in the bathroom
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Papel higiénico
🇫🇷 French: Papier toilette
🇩🇪 German: Toilettenpapier
🇮🇹 Italian: Carta igienica
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Papel higiénico
🔋 Batteries
small cells that give power to devices
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pilas
🇫🇷 French: Piles
🇩🇪 German: Batterien
🇮🇹 Italian: Batterie / Pile
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pilhas

🔵 Useful Store Vocabulary

⛽ Gas station
a place that sells fuel for cars
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Gasolinera
🇫🇷 French: Station-service
🇩🇪 German: Tankstelle
🇮🇹 Italian: Stazione di servizio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Posto de gasolina
💰 Cashier
the person who takes your payment
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cajero / Cajera
🇫🇷 French: Caissier / Caissière
🇩🇪 German: Kassierer / Kassiererin
🇮🇹 Italian: Cassiere / Cassiera
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Caixa
🛒 Checkout / Register
the place where you pay
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Caja
🇫🇷 French: Caisse
🇩🇪 German: Kasse
🇮🇹 Italian: Cassa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Caixa
🛍️ Bag
something used to carry what you buy
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Bolsa
🇫🇷 French: Sac
🇩🇪 German: Tüte
🇮🇹 Italian: Sacchetto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Saco
🕐 Opening hours
the times when the store is open
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Horario
🇫🇷 French: Horaires d'ouverture
🇩🇪 German: Öffnungszeiten
🇮🇹 Italian: Orari di apertura
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Horário de funcionamento
🌙 Open 24 hours
open all day and all night
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Abierto las veinticuatro horas
🇫🇷 French: Ouvert 24 heures sur 24
🇩🇪 German: 24 Stunden geöffnet
🇮🇹 Italian: Aperto 24 ore su 24
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aberto 24 horas

🧠 Asking for Things at a Convenience Store

💡 Use have / do you have to ask whether the store has something you need.
Do you have cold water?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tienen agua fría?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous de l'eau froide ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie kaltes Wasser?
🇮🇹 Avete acqua fredda?
🇵🇹 Têm água fria?
Do you have batteries?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tienen pilas?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous des piles ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie Batterien?
🇮🇹 Avete pile?
🇵🇹 Têm pilhas?
💡 Use need when asking for something you need.
I need a bag of ice.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito una bolsa de hielo.
🇫🇷 J'ai besoin d'un sac de glace.
🇩🇪 Ich brauche einen Beutel Eis.
🇮🇹 Mi serve un sacchetto di ghiaccio.
🇵🇹 Preciso de um saco de gelo.
I need a bottle of water.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito una botella de agua.
🇫🇷 J'ai besoin d'une bouteille d'eau.
🇩🇪 Ich brauche eine Flasche Wasser.
🇮🇹 Mi serve una bottiglia d'acqua.
🇵🇹 Preciso de uma garrafa de água.
💡 Use looking for when you're trying to find an item in the store.
I'm looking for the cold drinks.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Estoy buscando las bebidas frías.
🇫🇷 Je cherche les boissons froides.
🇩🇪 Ich suche die kalten Getränke.
🇮🇹 Sto cercando le bevande fredde.
🇵🇹 Estou à procura das bebidas frias.
I'm looking for something to eat.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Busco algo para comer.
🇫🇷 Je cherche quelque chose à manger.
🇩🇪 Ich suche etwas zu essen.
🇮🇹 Cerco qualcosa da mangiare.
🇵🇹 Procuro algo para comer.

❓ Useful Convenience Store Questions

🥤 Where are the cold drinks?
asking the location of refrigerated drinks
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde están las bebidas frías?
🇫🇷 French: Où sont les boissons froides ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo sind die kalten Getränke?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove sono le bevande fredde?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde estão as bebidas frias?
🧊 Do you have bags of ice?
asking if frozen ice bags are for sale
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tienen bolsas de hielo?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous des sacs de glace ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie Beutel mit Eis?
🇮🇹 Italian: Avete sacchetti di ghiaccio?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Têm sacos de gelo?
☕ Where is the coffee?
asking where to find coffee
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde está el café?
🇫🇷 French: Où est le café ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo ist der Kaffee?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dov'è il caffè?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde está o café?
🛍️ Can you give me a bag, please?
asking the cashier for a shopping bag
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Me puede dar una bolsa, por favor?
🇫🇷 French: Pouvez-vous me donner un sac, s'il vous plaît ?
🇩🇪 German: Können Sie mir bitte eine Tüte geben?
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi può dare un sacchetto, per favore?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pode dar-me um saco, por favor?
🕐 What time does the store close?
asking when the store shuts
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿A qué hora cierra la tienda?
🇫🇷 French: À quelle heure ferme le magasin ?
🇩🇪 German: Wann schließt der Laden?
🇮🇹 Italian: A che ora chiude il negozio?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A que horas fecha a loja?
🌙 Is the store open 24 hours?
asking if the store never closes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Está abierta la tienda las veinticuatro horas?
🇫🇷 French: Le magasin est-il ouvert 24 heures sur 24 ?
🇩🇪 German: Ist der Laden 24 Stunden geöffnet?
🇮🇹 Italian: Il negozio è aperto 24 ore su 24?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A loja está aberta 24 horas?

💬 Common Convenience Store Phrases

🥤 I want to buy something cold to drink.
you want a cold beverage
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quiero comprar algo frío para beber.
🇫🇷 French: Je veux acheter quelque chose de froid à boire.
🇩🇪 German: Ich möchte etwas Kaltes zu trinken kaufen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Voglio comprare qualcosa di freddo da bere.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quero comprar algo frio para beber.
🧊 We need a bag of ice to keep the drinks cold.
ice will keep the drinks chilled
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesitamos una bolsa de hielo para mantener las bebidas frías.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons besoin d'un sac de glace pour garder les boissons froides.
🇩🇪 German: Wir brauchen einen Beutel Eis, um die Getränke kalt zu halten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ci serve un sacchetto di ghiaccio per tenere le bevande fresche.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Precisamos de um saco de gelo para manter as bebidas frias.
🥪 I'm going to buy a sandwich because I need something quick to eat.
a sandwich is a fast meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Voy a comprar un sándwich porque necesito algo rápido para comer.
🇫🇷 French: Je vais acheter un sandwich parce que j'ai besoin de quelque chose de rapide à manger.
🇩🇪 German: Ich werde ein Sandwich kaufen, weil ich etwas Schnelles zum Essen brauche.
🇮🇹 Italian: Comprerò un panino perché mi serve qualcosa di veloce da mangiare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vou comprar um sanduíche porque preciso de algo rápido para comer.
🔋 I'm looking for batteries, but I don't know where they are in the store.
you need help finding batteries
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy buscando pilas, pero no sé en qué parte de la tienda están.
🇫🇷 French: Je cherche des piles, mais je ne sais pas dans quelle partie du magasin elles se trouvent.
🇩🇪 German: Ich suche Batterien, aber ich weiß nicht, in welchem Teil des Ladens sie sind.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sto cercando delle pile, ma non so in che parte del negozio siano.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estou à procura de pilhas, mas não sei em que parte da loja estão.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Looking for something in the store
asking where bags of ice are kept
A: Excuse me, do you have bags of ice?
B: Yes, they're in the freezer near the entrance.
A: Perfect, thank you.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Disculpe, ¿tienen bolsas de hielo?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, están en el congelador cerca de la entrada.
🇪🇸 A: Perfecto, gracias.

🇫🇷 A: Excusez-moi, avez-vous des sacs de glace ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, ils sont dans le congélateur près de l'entrée.
🇫🇷 A: Parfait, merci.

🇩🇪 A: Entschuldigung, haben Sie Beutel mit Eis?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, die sind im Gefrierschrank in der Nähe des Eingangs.
🇩🇪 A: Perfekt, danke.

🇮🇹 A: Scusi, avete sacchetti di ghiaccio?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, sono nel freezer vicino all'ingresso.
🇮🇹 A: Perfetto, grazie.

🇵🇹 A: Com licença, têm sacos de gelo?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, estão no congelador perto da entrada.
🇵🇹 A: Perfeito, obrigado.
Buying a quick snack
finding sandwiches and adding a bottle of water
A: Where are the sandwiches?
B: They're in the refrigerator next to the drinks.
A: Thank you. I'm also going to get a bottle of water.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Dónde están los sándwiches?
🇪🇸 B: Están en el refrigerador junto a las bebidas.
🇪🇸 A: Gracias. También voy a llevar una botella de agua.

🇫🇷 A: Où sont les sandwichs ?
🇫🇷 B: Ils sont dans le réfrigérateur à côté des boissons.
🇫🇷 A: Merci. Je vais aussi prendre une bouteille d'eau.

🇩🇪 A: Wo sind die Sandwiches?
🇩🇪 B: Die sind im Kühlschrank neben den Getränken.
🇩🇪 A: Danke. Ich nehme auch noch eine Flasche Wasser.

🇮🇹 A: Dove sono i panini?
🇮🇹 B: Sono nel frigorifero vicino alle bevande.
🇮🇹 A: Grazie. Prendo anche una bottiglia d'acqua.

🇵🇹 A: Onde estão os sanduíches?
🇵🇹 B: Estão no frigorífico ao lado das bebidas.
🇵🇹 A: Obrigado. Também vou levar uma garrafa de água.

📝 Example Sentences

🏪 We stopped at a convenience store to buy a few things before continuing the trip.
a short stop to pick up supplies
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Paramos en una tienda de conveniencia para comprar algunas cosas antes de continuar el viaje.
🇫🇷 French: Nous nous sommes arrêtés dans une supérette pour acheter quelques affaires avant de continuer le voyage.
🇩🇪 German: Wir sind an einem Convenience Store angehalten, um ein paar Sachen zu kaufen, bevor wir die Reise fortgesetzt haben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ci siamo fermati in un minimarket per comprare alcune cose prima di continuare il viaggio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Parámos numa loja de conveniência para comprar algumas coisas antes de continuar a viagem.
🥤 I bought a cold drink and something to eat because I was hungry.
you bought food and a drink
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compré una bebida fría y algo para comer porque tenía hambre.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai acheté une boisson froide et quelque chose à manger parce que j'avais faim.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe ein kaltes Getränk und etwas zu essen gekauft, weil ich Hunger hatte.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho comprato una bevanda fredda e qualcosa da mangiare perché avevo fame.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comprei uma bebida fria e algo para comer porque estava com fome.
⛽ The gas station had a small store where we could buy water and some snacks.
the fuel station also sold drinks and snacks
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La gasolinera tenía una pequeña tienda donde pudimos comprar agua y algunos aperitivos.
🇫🇷 French: La station-service avait un petit magasin où nous avons pu acheter de l'eau et quelques snacks.
🇩🇪 German: Die Tankstelle hatte einen kleinen Laden, in dem wir Wasser und ein paar Snacks kaufen konnten.
🇮🇹 Italian: La stazione di servizio aveva un piccolo negozio dove abbiamo potuto comprare acqua e alcuni snack.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O posto de gasolina tinha uma pequena loja onde pudemos comprar água e alguns lanches.
🧊 We bought two bags of ice to keep the food and drinks cold during the trip.
ice kept the cooler cold on the road
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compramos dos bolsas de hielo para mantener la comida y las bebidas frías durante el viaje.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons acheté deux sacs de glace pour garder la nourriture et les boissons froides pendant le voyage.
🇩🇪 German: Wir haben zwei Beutel Eis gekauft, um das Essen und die Getränke während der Fahrt kalt zu halten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Abbiamo comprato due sacchetti di ghiaccio per tenere il cibo e le bevande freschi durante il viaggio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comprámos dois sacos de gelo para manter a comida e as bebidas frias durante a viagem.
🌙 Luckily, we found a store that was open 24 hours.
the store was open all night
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Por suerte, encontramos una tienda que estaba abierta las veinticuatro horas.
🇫🇷 French: Heureusement, nous avons trouvé un magasin qui était ouvert 24 heures sur 24.
🇩🇪 German: Glücklicherweise haben wir einen Laden gefunden, der 24 Stunden geöffnet war.
🇮🇹 Italian: Per fortuna, abbiamo trovato un negozio che era aperto 24 ore su 24.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Por sorte, encontrámos uma loja que estava aberta 24 horas.
☕ I went into the store to buy a coffee before getting back on the road.
you bought coffee then continued driving
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Entré en la tienda para comprar un café antes de volver a la carretera.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis entré dans le magasin pour acheter un café avant de reprendre la route.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin in den Laden gegangen, um einen Kaffee zu kaufen, bevor ich wieder auf die Straße gegangen bin.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono entrato nel negozio per comprare un caffè prima di rimettermi in viaggio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Entrei na loja para comprar um café antes de voltar à estrada.

🏆 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%