🏬 Stores

⏱ 15 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful everyday English vocabulary and expressions for shopping and visiting stores. You'll learn how to find different types of shops, ask for help, look for products, check availability, try on clothes, and handle returns and exchanges. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Store Vocabulary

🏬 Store / Shop
a place where you buy things
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tienda
🇫🇷 French: Magasin / Boutique
🇩🇪 German: Geschäft / Laden
🇮🇹 Italian: Negozio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Loja
🛒 Supermarket
a large store that sells food and household items
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Supermercado
🇫🇷 French: Supermarché
🇩🇪 German: Supermarkt
🇮🇹 Italian: Supermercato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Supermercado
👕 Clothing store
a shop that sells clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Tienda de ropa
🇫🇷 French: Magasin de vêtements
🇩🇪 German: Bekleidungsgeschäft
🇮🇹 Italian: Negozio di abbigliamento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Loja de roupa
🛍️ Shopping mall
a large building with many stores inside
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Centro comercial
🇫🇷 French: Centre commercial
🇩🇪 German: Einkaufszentrum
🇮🇹 Italian: Centro commerciale
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Centro comercial
💊 Pharmacy
a store that sells medicine
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Farmacia
🇫🇷 French: Pharmacie
🇩🇪 German: Apotheke
🇮🇹 Italian: Farmacia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Farmácia
🍎 Market
a place with many stalls selling food and goods
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mercado
🇫🇷 French: Marché
🇩🇪 German: Markt
🇮🇹 Italian: Mercato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mercado

🟡 Shopping & Store Vocabulary

🛒 Shopping cart
a wheeled basket you push while shopping
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Carrito de compras
🇫🇷 French: Caddie / Chariot
🇩🇪 German: Einkaufswagen
🇮🇹 Italian: Carrello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Carrinho de compras
📦 Product
an item the store sells
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Producto
🇫🇷 French: Produit
🇩🇪 German: Produkt
🇮🇹 Italian: Prodotto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Produto
👕 Size
how big or small a piece of clothing is
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Talla
🇫🇷 French: Taille
🇩🇪 German: Größe
🇮🇹 Italian: Taglia
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tamanho
🚪 Fitting room
a small room where you try on clothes
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Probador
🇫🇷 French: Cabine d'essayage
🇩🇪 German: Umkleidekabine
🇮🇹 Italian: Camerino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Provador
📦 In stock / Available
the store has the item right now
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Disponible
🇫🇷 French: Disponible
🇩🇪 German: Verfügbar
🇮🇹 Italian: Disponibile
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Disponível
👤 Store employee
a person who works in the store
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Empleado / Empleada
🇫🇷 French: Employé / Employée
🇩🇪 German: Verkäufer / Verkäuferin
🇮🇹 Italian: Commesso / Commessa
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Funcionário / Funcionária

🔵 Shopping Actions

🔎 To look for
to try to find something
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Buscar
🇫🇷 French: Chercher
🇩🇪 German: Suchen
🇮🇹 Italian: Cercare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Procurar
👗 To try on
to put on clothes to see if they fit
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Probarse
🇫🇷 French: Essayer
🇩🇪 German: Anprobieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Provare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Experimentar / Provar
📦 To return
to take an item back to the store
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Devolver
🇫🇷 French: Rendre / Retourner
🇩🇪 German: Zurückgeben
🇮🇹 Italian: Restituire
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Devolver
🔄 To exchange
to swap an item for a different one
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cambiar
🇫🇷 French: Échanger
🇩🇪 German: Umtauschen
🇮🇹 Italian: Cambiare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trocar
🛍️ To go shopping
to visit stores to buy things
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ir de compras
🇫🇷 French: Faire du shopping
🇩🇪 German: Einkaufen gehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Fare shopping
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ir às compras
🙋 To ask for help
to request assistance from a worker
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pedir ayuda
🇫🇷 French: Demander de l'aide
🇩🇪 German: Um Hilfe bitten
🇮🇹 Italian: Chiedere aiuto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pedir ajuda

🧠 Talking About Shopping

💡 Use looking for when telling someone what you're looking for.
I'm looking for a jacket.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Estoy buscando una chaqueta.
🇫🇷 Je cherche une veste.
🇩🇪 Ich suche eine Jacke.
🇮🇹 Sto cercando una giacca.
🇵🇹 Estou à procura de um casaco.
We're looking for a pharmacy.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Estamos buscando una farmacia.
🇫🇷 Nous cherchons une pharmacie.
🇩🇪 Wir suchen eine Apotheke.
🇮🇹 Stiamo cercando una farmacia.
🇵🇹 Estamos à procura de uma farmácia.
💡 Use have / do you have to ask whether a store has a particular item, size, or color.
Do you have this shirt in another size?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tiene esta camisa en otra talla?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous cette chemise dans une autre taille ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie dieses Hemd in einer anderen Größe?
🇮🇹 Ha questa camicia in un'altra taglia?
🇵🇹 Tem esta camisa noutro tamanho?
Do you have this model in blue?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tienen este modelo en azul?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous ce modèle en bleu ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie dieses Modell in Blau?
🇮🇹 Avete questo modello in blu?
🇵🇹 Têm este modelo a azul?
💡 Use fit to talk about how clothing fits or looks on someone.
This jacket fits me well.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Esta chaqueta me queda bien.
🇫🇷 Cette veste me va bien.
🇩🇪 Diese Jacke passt mir gut.
🇮🇹 Questa giacca mi sta bene.
🇵🇹 Este casaco fica-me bem.
These pants are too big for me.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Estos pantalones me quedan grandes.
🇫🇷 Ce pantalon est trop grand pour moi.
🇩🇪 Diese Hose ist mir zu groß.
🇮🇹 Questi pantaloni mi stanno larghi.
🇵🇹 Estas calças ficam-me grandes.

❓ Useful Shopping Questions

🔎 Where can I find this?
asking the location of an item
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde puedo encontrar esto?
🇫🇷 French: Où puis-je trouver ceci ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo finde ich das?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove posso trovare questo?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde posso encontrar isto?
👕 Do you have this in another size?
asking for a bigger or smaller size
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Tiene esto en otra talla?
🇫🇷 French: Avez-vous ceci dans une autre taille ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie das in einer anderen Größe?
🇮🇹 Italian: Ha questo in un'altra taglia?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tem isto noutro tamanho?
🎨 Do you have it in another color?
asking for a different color of the same item
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Lo tienen en otro color?
🇫🇷 French: L'avez-vous dans une autre couleur ?
🇩🇪 German: Haben Sie es in einer anderen Farbe?
🇮🇹 Italian: Lo avete in un altro colore?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Têm isto noutra cor?
🚪 Where are the fitting rooms?
asking where you can try clothes on
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Dónde están los probadores?
🇫🇷 French: Où sont les cabines d'essayage ?
🇩🇪 German: Wo sind die Umkleidekabinen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Dove sono i camerini?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Onde ficam os provadores?
👗 Can I try it on?
asking permission to put the item on
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Me lo puedo probar?
🇫🇷 French: Puis-je l'essayer ?
🇩🇪 German: Kann ich es anprobieren?
🇮🇹 Italian: Posso provarlo?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Posso experimentá-lo?
🔄 Can I exchange this product?
asking to swap the item for another
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: ¿Puedo cambiar este producto?
🇫🇷 French: Puis-je échanger ce produit ?
🇩🇪 German: Kann ich dieses Produkt umtauschen?
🇮🇹 Italian: Posso cambiare questo prodotto?
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Posso trocar este produto?

💬 Common Shopping Phrases

🛍️ I'm looking for a gift for my sister.
you want something to give as a present
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Estoy buscando un regalo para mi hermana.
🇫🇷 French: Je cherche un cadeau pour ma sœur.
🇩🇪 German: Ich suche ein Geschenk für meine Schwester.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sto cercando un regalo per mia sorella.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Estou à procura de um presente para a minha irmã.
👕 This size is a little too small for me.
the clothes feel tight
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Esta talla me queda un poco pequeña.
🇫🇷 French: Cette taille est un peu trop petite pour moi.
🇩🇪 German: Diese Größe ist mir etwas zu klein.
🇮🇹 Italian: Questa taglia mi sta un po' stretta.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Este tamanho fica-me um pouco pequeno.
📦 I'm sorry, that model isn't available.
the store does not have that version
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lo siento, ese modelo no está disponible.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis désolé, ce modèle n'est pas disponible.
🇩🇪 German: Es tut mir leid, dieses Modell ist nicht verfügbar.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi dispiace, quel modello non è disponibile.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lamento, esse modelo não está disponível.
🔄 I'd like to exchange this for another size.
you want a different size of the same item
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quisiera cambiar esto por otra talla.
🇫🇷 French: Je voudrais échanger ceci contre une autre taille.
🇩🇪 German: Ich möchte das gegen eine andere Größe umtauschen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Vorrei cambiare questo con un'altra taglia.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gostaria de trocar isto por outro tamanho.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Shopping for clothes
asking for a larger size and the fitting rooms
A: Excuse me, do you have this shirt in a larger size?
B: Yes, we have one size larger. Would you like to try it on?
A: Yes, thank you. Where are the fitting rooms?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Disculpe, ¿tiene esta camisa en una talla más grande?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, tenemos una talla más. ¿Quiere probársela?
🇪🇸 A: Sí, gracias. ¿Dónde están los probadores?

🇫🇷 A: Excusez-moi, avez-vous cette chemise dans une taille plus grande ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, nous en avons une taille au-dessus. Voulez-vous l'essayer ?
🇫🇷 A: Oui, merci. Où sont les cabines d'essayage ?

🇩🇪 A: Entschuldigung, haben Sie dieses Hemd in einer größeren Größe?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, wir haben eine Größe größer. Möchten Sie es anprobieren?
🇩🇪 A: Ja, danke. Wo sind die Umkleidekabinen?

🇮🇹 A: Scusi, ha questa camicia in una taglia più grande?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, ne abbiamo una taglia in più. Vuole provarla?
🇮🇹 A: Sì, grazie. Dove sono i camerini?

🇵🇹 A: Com licença, tem esta camisa num tamanho maior?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, temos um tamanho a mais. Quer experimentá-la?
🇵🇹 A: Sim, obrigado. Onde ficam os provadores?
Returning an item
choosing an exchange instead of a refund
A: I'd like to return this jacket.
B: Of course. Would you prefer to exchange it for another one or return it?
A: I'd prefer to exchange it for a smaller size.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Quisiera devolver esta chaqueta.
🇪🇸 B: Claro. ¿Prefiere cambiarla por otra o devolverla?
🇪🇸 A: Prefiero cambiarla por una talla más pequeña.

🇫🇷 A: Je voudrais rendre cette veste.
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr. Préférez-vous l'échanger contre une autre ou la rendre ?
🇫🇷 A: Je préfère l'échanger contre une taille plus petite.

🇩🇪 A: Ich möchte diese Jacke zurückgeben.
🇩🇪 B: Natürlich. Möchten Sie sie umtauschen oder zurückgeben?
🇩🇪 A: Ich würde sie lieber gegen eine kleinere Größe umtauschen.

🇮🇹 A: Vorrei restituire questa giacca.
🇮🇹 B: Certo. Preferisce cambiarla con un'altra o restituirla?
🇮🇹 A: Preferisco cambiarla con una taglia più piccola.

🇵🇹 A: Gostaria de devolver este casaco.
🇵🇹 B: Claro. Prefere trocá-lo por outro ou devolvê-lo?
🇵🇹 A: Prefiro trocá-lo por um tamanho mais pequeno.

📝 Example Sentences

🏬 The store closes at nine, so we still have time to look around.
there is still time before closing
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: La tienda cierra a las nueve, así que todavía tenemos tiempo para mirar.
🇫🇷 French: Le magasin ferme à neuf heures, donc nous avons encore le temps de regarder.
🇩🇪 German: Der Laden schließt um neun, also haben wir noch Zeit zum Schauen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il negozio chiude alle nove, quindi abbiamo ancora tempo per dare un'occhiata.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: A loja fecha às nove, por isso ainda temos tempo para ver.
🛒 We need a shopping cart because we're going to buy a lot of things.
a cart helps when the purchase is large
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesitamos un carrito porque vamos a comprar muchas cosas.
🇫🇷 French: Nous avons besoin d'un caddie parce que nous allons acheter beaucoup de choses.
🇩🇪 German: Wir brauchen einen Einkaufswagen, weil wir viele Sachen kaufen werden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ci serve un carrello perché stiamo per comprare tante cose.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Precisamos de um carrinho porque vamos comprar muitas coisas.
👗 I tried on three dresses before finding one that fit me well.
several tries before the right fit
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Me probé tres vestidos antes de encontrar uno que me quedara bien.
🇫🇷 French: J'ai essayé trois robes avant d'en trouver une qui me va bien.
🇩🇪 German: Ich habe drei Kleider anprobiert, bevor ich eines gefunden habe, das mir gut passt.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ho provato tre vestiti prima di trovarne uno che mi stesse bene.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Experimentei três vestidos antes de encontrar um que me ficasse bem.
📦 The product I was looking for wasn't available in that store.
the item was out of stock there
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: El producto que estaba buscando no estaba disponible en esa tienda.
🇫🇷 French: Le produit que je cherchais n'était pas disponible dans ce magasin.
🇩🇪 German: Das Produkt, das ich gesucht habe, war in dem Laden nicht verfügbar.
🇮🇹 Italian: Il prodotto che stavo cercando non era disponibile in quel negozio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: O produto que estava à procura não estava disponível naquela loja.
🎨 I like this model, but I'd prefer to buy it in another color.
the style is good, the color is not
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Me gusta este modelo, pero preferiría comprarlo en otro color.
🇫🇷 French: J'aime ce modèle, mais je préférerais l'acheter dans une autre couleur.
🇩🇪 German: Mir gefällt dieses Modell, aber ich würde es lieber in einer anderen Farbe kaufen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi piace questo modello, ma preferirei comprarlo in un altro colore.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gosto deste modelo, mas preferia comprá-lo noutra cor.
🔄 I went back to the store to exchange the pants for a larger size.
a second visit to swap for a bigger size
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Volví a la tienda para cambiar los pantalones por una talla más grande.
🇫🇷 French: Je suis retourné au magasin pour échanger le pantalon contre une taille plus grande.
🇩🇪 German: Ich bin zurück in den Laden gegangen, um die Hose gegen eine größere Größe umzutauschen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sono tornato al negozio per cambiare i pantaloni con una taglia più grande.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Voltei à loja para trocar as calças por um tamanho maior.

🏆 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%