🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What is Shopping Vocabulary?

Shopping vocabulary includes the English words you need to describe shops, shopping activities, purchases, and related concepts. Mastering these terms helps you participate in buying and selling conversations in retail settings.

Short answer

Shopping vocabulary includes words like shop, store, customer, cashier, price, discount, receipt, and refund — terms used to describe the buying and selling of goods in retail environments. These words are essential for everyday consumer interactions.

Shopping Environment

Places to Shop

•Shop/Store
•Supermarket
•Market
•Mall
•Boutique

Shopping Actions

•Browse
•Try on
•Pay
•Check out
•Return

Step-by-step worked examples

Ask a shop assistant where something is.

Excuse me, where can I find the books?
Or: Do you have this in a different size?
Answer: They're in aisle three.

Describe what you do when shopping.

I browse the items, choose what I like, and go to the checkout.
Then I pay by card and get my receipt.

Fill the gap: I got a 20% ___ on this jacket.

Answer: discount.
Full sentence: I got a 20% discount on this jacket.

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.What do you do at the checkout?

Correct answer: B. The checkout is where you pay for your items before leaving.

Q2.Fill: I got a 50% ___ on the dress.

Correct answer: B. Discount is the reduction from the original price.

Q3.A ___ helps you find items in the shop.

Correct answer: B. A shop assistant works in the shop and helps customers.

Q4.If you're unhappy with a purchase, you can ___?

Correct answer: C. You can return it for a refund or exchange.

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Common mistakes

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Saying 'I go to the shop for shopping' — wordy. — Correct: Say 'I go shopping' or 'I go to the shop'.

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Confusing 'customer' and 'client'. — Correct: Customer buys retail goods; client uses professional services.

✗

Using 'supermarket' for a small shop. — Correct: Supermarket is large; small shop is just 'shop' or 'store'.

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Saying 'on sale' for a discount. — Correct: Both work, but 'discount' is more precise.

FAQ

What is the difference between 'shop' and 'store'?

'Shop' is British English; 'store' is American English. They mean the same thing.

What do you say when paying?

You can say 'How much is it?' or 'Can I pay by card?' or 'I'll take it.'

What is a 'bargain'?

A bargain is a product sold at a good price — usually lower than normal.

What should you keep after buying something?

Always keep your receipt — it proves you bought the item and is needed for refunds.