English Shopping Phrases
The phrases you use most while shopping are 'How much is this?', 'Do you have this in a larger size?', 'Can I try it on?' and 'Can I pay by card?'. Start a request with 'Excuse me' or 'Could I…', and finish with 'Thank you'.
Level: A2. This is a phrasebook page: a small set of shopping phrases you can use straight away, grouped by what you are doing — finding something, asking the price, trying it on, paying, and returning it. Play each line and copy it aloud.
By the end of this page you can…
…ask for and find items in a shop, ask the price, ask for a size or colour, try clothes on, pay by cash or card, and return or exchange something — all politely.
Finding what you want
Walk in, catch an assistant’s eye, and start with Excuse me. Then say what you are looking for.
| Phrase | Natural meaning |
|---|---|
| Excuse me, where can I find the milk? | Asking which part of the shop to go to |
| I’m just looking, thanks. | Polite reply when you don’t need help yet |
| Do you have any umbrellas? | Checking whether they stock an item |
| I’m looking for a gift for a child. | Saying what kind of thing you need |
Asking the price
The core question is How much…? Match the verb to the number of things.
| Phrase | Natural meaning |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | Price of one item near you |
| How much are these? | Price of several items near you |
| How much does it cost? | Another way to ask the price |
| Is this on sale? | Checking for a discount |
Size, colour and trying on
Clothes shopping has its own set. These four cover most of it.
| Phrase | Natural meaning |
|---|---|
| Do you have this in a larger size? | Asking for a bigger size |
| Do you have this in blue? | Asking for another colour |
| Can I try it on? | Asking to test a garment |
| Where are the fitting rooms? | Asking where to change |
Paying
When you have decided, say I’ll take it (one thing) or I’ll take these (several), then sort out payment.
| Phrase | Natural meaning |
|---|---|
| I’ll take it. | Deciding to buy one item |
| Can I pay by card? | Choosing to pay with a card |
| Can I pay in cash? | Choosing to pay with cash |
| Could I have a receipt, please? | Asking for proof of purchase |
Returning and exchanging
If something is wrong, you can take it back. Keep the receipt.
- I’d like to return this, please. — you want your money back.
- Can I exchange this for a smaller size? — you want a different one instead.
- It doesn’t fit. / It’s faulty. — the reason, in three words.
- Can I have a refund? — asking for your money back directly.
A short conversation
You: Excuse me, do you have this jumper in a larger size? Assistant: Let me check. What size do you need? You: A large, please. And how much is it? Assistant: It’s twenty-nine ninety-nine. (illustrative price) You: Great, I’ll take it. Can I pay by card? Assistant: Of course. Here’s your receipt.
The phrases, with audio
Press play and repeat each line until it feels natural.
- Excuse me, where can I find the bread?Asking which part of the shop to go to.Swap in any item you need.
- I'm just looking, thanks.Polite reply when you want to browse alone.
- Do you have any batteries?Checking whether a shop stocks something.
- How much is this?Asking the price of one item near you.
- How much are these?Asking the price of several items near you.
- Is this on sale?Checking whether there is a discount.
- Do you have this in a larger size?Asking for a bigger size.
- Do you have this in blue?Asking for a different colour.
- Can I try it on?Asking to test a piece of clothing.
- Where are the fitting rooms?Asking where you can change.
- It doesn't fit.Saying a garment is the wrong size.
- I'll take it.Deciding to buy one item.
- I'll take these.Deciding to buy several items.
- Can I pay by card?Choosing to pay with a card.
- Can I pay in cash?Choosing to pay with cash.
- Could I have a receipt, please?Asking for proof of purchase.
- Can I have a bag, please?Asking for a bag at the till.
- I'd like to return this, please.Starting a return.Bring the receipt.
- Can I exchange this for a smaller size?Swapping for a different size.
- Can I have a refund?Asking for your money back.
Quick recap before you practise.
Practice
Shopping phrases practice
Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
1 Match each phrase to what it does.
- How much is this?
- Can I try it on?
- Can I pay by card?
- I'd like to return this.
Show answer
- How much is this? → ask the price
- Can I try it on? → test clothing
- Can I pay by card? → choose payment
- I'd like to return this. → bring it back
Each phrase belongs to one shopping step: price, fitting, paying, returning.
Hint: not 'many' — this is about cost
Show answer
much — 'How much' asks the price; 'how many' counts things.
Hint: a polite request word
Show answer
Can — 'Can I…?' or 'Could I…?' both make a polite request.
6 Put the words in order to ask to pay with a card.
Show answer
Can I pay by card? — A natural question: Can I pay by card?
How to say it
A few shopping words trip English learners up. Copy the audio.
- receipt has a silent p: say ri-SEET.
- size rhymes with eyes, with a z sound: sʌɪz.
- exchange stresses the second part and starts with iks: iks-CHAYNJ.
- refund (the noun) stresses the first part: REE-fund.
- fitting has a short i and a clear double t: FIT-ing.
Quiz
Shopping phrases quiz
10 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.
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How much is this? — One item takes 'is': How much is this?
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How much are these? — A plural subject takes 'are': How much are these?
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Can I try it on? — 'Can I try it on?' asks to try clothing on.
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I'm just looking, thanks. — 'I'm just looking, thanks' politely declines help.
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Do you have this in blue? — 'Do you have this in blue?' asks for another colour.
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I'll take it. — 'I'll take it' buys one item; 'I'll take these' buys several.
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receipt — 'Receipt' has a silent 'p': ri-SEET.
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Can I exchange this for a smaller size? — 'Can I exchange this…?' swaps an item for a different one.
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Can I have a bag, please? — 'Can I have a bag, please?' is a polite request.
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whether there is a discount — 'On sale' means offered at a reduced price.
Recap cheat-sheet
| Step | Phrase to use |
|---|---|
| Find it | Do you have…? / Where can I find…? |
| Price | How much is this? / are these? |
| Size & colour | In a larger size? / in blue? |
| Try it | Can I try it on? |
| Pay | Can I pay by card? / in cash? |
| Return | I’d like to return this, please. |
Next
- Related lesson: English: Shopping & Prices
- Related lesson: English: Clothing & Sizes
- Related lesson: English: Supermarket & Groceries
- New here? Start with Start Learning English Here
All English phrases topics
Vocabulary, pronunciation, phrases, practice and exam help, ordered by level. Pick a topic and go straight to it. New lessons go live every day, so topics marked Coming soon fill in over the next weeks.
Phrases
A1 4 topics · 4 ready
A2 7 topics · 7 ready
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