Shopping is one of the most common situations where you need English, whether you are travelling or buying online. The good news is that shops use a small set of repeated phrases. If you learn them correctly, you can move through a store with confidence. This article covers how to ask about price and size, try clothes on, pay, and return items. You will find a full dialogue, a quick phrase table, and mistakes that many Arabic speakers make.
Asking About Price
The most useful question is How much is this? For plural items such as shoes or socks, say How much are these?
- How much is this jacket?
- How much are these shoes?
- How much does it cost?
- Is this the final price?
Remember that after does, the verb has no s: How much does it cost? Not How much does it costs?
Talking About Price: Expensive and Cheap
If the price feels high, a polite sentence is It’s a bit expensive. If you like the price, say That’s a good price. To ask about reductions, use:
- Is there a discount?
- Is this on sale?
- Do you have anything cheaper?
The word cheap can sometimes suggest low quality. To praise a price, many speakers prefer reasonable or affordable: The price is reasonable.
Asking About Size and Colour
The word for size is size. Ask What size is this? or say I’m a size medium. To ask for another size:
- Do you have this in a larger size?
- Do you have this in a smaller size?
- Do you have this in blue?
- Do you have it in my size?
Common clothing sizes are small, medium and large, and XL means extra large. Number sizes for shoes and clothes are different in Britain, America and Europe, so ask Is this a European size? and always try the item on before you buy. Note that British English spells the word colour, while American English spells it color.
Trying Clothes On
Before buying, we try clothes on. Say Can I try this on? To find the room, ask Where is the fitting room? This is common in American English. In British English, changing room is more usual.
After trying something on, you can say:
- It fits well.
- It’s too small.
- It’s too big.
- It’s too tight.
- It’s too loose.
The verb fit is about size. The verb suit is about style: The colour suits you means the colour looks good on you.
Paying and Getting a Receipt
At the checkout, these phrases help: I’ll take it. Can I pay by card? Do you accept cash? The assistant may ask, Would you like a bag?
Keep your receipt. The word is pronounced ri-SEET, and the p is silent. Ask: Can I have a receipt, please? In British English, the place where you pay is often called the till. In American English, people say register or checkout.
Returns, Exchanges and Refunds
If the item is not right, these phrases are important:
- I’d like to return this.
- I’d like to exchange this for a larger size.
- Can I get a refund?
- What is your return policy?
- I have the receipt.
To return means to take the item back. To exchange means to change it for another item. A refund is money back. Choose the word that matches what you really want. If the product is broken, you can say: This is damaged. or It doesn’t work.
A Full Dialogue in a Clothes Shop
Assistant: Hello! Can I help you?
Customer: Yes, please. How much is this jacket?
Assistant: It’s on sale today.
Customer: Great. Do you have it in medium?
Assistant: Yes, here you are. The fitting room is over there.
Customer: Thank you. … It’s a little tight. Do you have a large?
Assistant: Let me check. Yes, here is a large.
Customer: It fits well. I’ll take it. Can I pay by card?
Assistant: Of course. Here is your receipt.
Customer: And what is your return policy, in case it’s not right?
Assistant: You can return it with the receipt.
Customer: Perfect. Thank you!
Quick Phrase Table
| Situation | Phrase | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Price | How much is this? | Ask the price |
| Discount | Is there a discount? | Ask about a reduction |
| Size | Do you have this in a larger size? | Ask for another size |
| Trying on | Can I try this on? | Ask to test the item |
| Paying | Can I pay by card? | Choose how to pay |
| Return | I’d like to return this. | Take an item back |
| Refund | Can I get a refund? | Ask for your money back |
Common Mistakes by Arabic Speakers
Many mistakes come from translating word for word from Arabic. Compare the wrong and the correct forms:
- Wrong: How much cost this? Correct: How much does this cost? or How much is this?
- Wrong: Is there bigger size? Correct: Do you have a bigger size?
- Wrong: I want to return back this. Correct: I’d like to return this. (Back is not needed after return.)
- Wrong: The shirt is small for me. Better: It’s too small.
- Wrong: I want discount. More polite: Is there a discount? or Can you give me a discount?
- Wrong: I want a money back. Correct: I’d like a refund. or I want my money back.
Also notice that I want can sound direct in a shop, while I’d like sounds more polite. Adding please and thank you makes every request friendlier.
Steps to Practise
- Learn one question for each situation: price, size, trying on, paying and returning.
- Change the key words: jacket, shoes, bag, shirt, and different colours and sizes.
- Read the dialogue aloud twice, once as the assistant and once as the customer.
- Write a short dialogue about something you really want to buy.
With these few phrases, you can handle most everyday shopping situations, and the more you repeat them, the more natural they will feel.