Shopping Vocabulary in English

Build your market vocabulary list with clear ESL shopping words.

Introduction to Shopping Vocabulary in English: Words, Phrases, and Role-Plays

Maybe you're chatting to a shop assistant, bargaining at a market stall, or comparing prices online. Strong shopping vocabulary English learners can use confidently will save time and avoid misunderstandings.

This guide I've prepared organises essential ESL shopping words into clear sections with model sentences, common collocations, and quick practice. We also include role-play tasks you can print or use in class if you want. If you’re building a market vocabulary list for travel or work, bookmark this page and return before your next trip.

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How to use this guide

  • Learn by situation. We group language by moments in a shopping journey: browsing, asking for help, sizes and colours, paying, returns.
  • Copy the pattern. Use the model sentence as a “shell”, then swap the item, colour, size, or price.
  • Practise with role-plays. Short, realistic exercises build automatic speaking habits.
  • Add your own items. Personalise the market vocabulary list with local products you actually buy.

Core Nouns for Shopping

shop / store, market, stall, aisle, shelf, basket, trolley, counter, till, receipt, barcode, label, tag, fitting room, queue, discount, refund, exchange, warranty, delivery, return

Model sentence: Keep the receipt in case you need a refund.

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Useful Verbs and Collocations

  • browse (browse the shelves/website): I’m just browsing, thanks.
  • try on (clothes): Can I try this on?
  • fit / suit: It fits well but the colour doesn’t suit me.
  • check out / pay for: Let’s check out at the front till.
  • run out of (stock): We’ve run out of medium sizes.
  • put aside / reserve: Could you put this aside for me?
  • compare (prices): I’ll compare prices online first.
  • exchange / refund / replace: We can exchange it within 14 days.

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Describing Products (Adjectives & Patterns)

Common adjectives: affordable, expensive, cheap, high-quality, durable, comfortable, trendy, stylish, waterproof, organic, handmade, second-hand, brand-new.

Patterns to copy:

  • It’s available in three colours and two sizes.
  • This model is on sale until Friday.
  • They’re out of stock right now.

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Asking for Help (Polite Requests)

Polite openers: Excuse me, could you…? / Would you mind…? / I’m looking for… / Do you have… in [size/colour]?

Examples:

  • Excuse me, do you have this in a size small?
  • Could you check if there’s any stock in the back?
  • I’m looking for a waterproof jacket under £80.

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Sizes, Colours, and Variations

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 6–16 (UK clothing), 38–46 (EU shoes)
Colours: navy, burgundy, beige, charcoal, khaki, teal
Variations: patterned, plain, striped, checked, floral

Model sentence: Do these trainers come in navy or charcoal?

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Prices, Discounts, and Payment

Key phrases:

  • How much is it? / What’s the price of this one?
  • Is there a student discount?
  • It’s £29.99, but there’s a two-for-one offer.
  • Can I pay by card / contactless / cash?
  • Do you accept returns?

Collocations: offer a discount, give a receipt, charge a fee, exact change, out of budget, price match.

Model sentence: They price-matched the online store and gave me a receipt.

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Online Shopping Vocabulary

  • delivery / shipping / postage — Standard delivery takes 3–5 days.
  • checkout / basket / promo code — Add it to your basket and apply a promo code.
  • in stock / back-order / pre-order — It’s available for pre-order next week.
  • tracking number — Here’s your tracking number for updates.
  • terms and conditions — Check the returns policy in the terms and conditions.

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Returns, Exchanges, and Complaints

Key questions:

  • What is your returns policy?
  • Can I exchange this for a different size?
  • It’s faulty — could I get a refund?

Polite complaint frame:

  • I’m afraid this item is damaged. I’d like to return it.
  • I bought this yesterday, but it doesn’t work properly.

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Short Model Dialogues (Teacher-ready)

Asking for a size

Customer: Excuse me, do you have this in a medium?
Assistant: I’ll check the stockroom. Yes — here you are.
Customer: Thanks. Can I try it on?
Assistant: Of course — the fitting rooms are on the left.

Comparing options

Customer: What’s the difference between these two models?
Assistant: This one is waterproof and includes a two-year warranty; the other is lighter and cheaper.
Customer: I’ll take the waterproof one if you can price-match online.

Returning a faulty item

Customer: I’m afraid this jacket is damaged. Can I return it?
Assistant: Certainly. Do you have the receipt?
Customer: Yes, here it is.
Assistant: We can refund or exchange it — which do you prefer?

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Role-Play Exercises (Print or Use in Pairs)

Role-Play 1 — The Weekend Market (A2–B1)

  • Goal: Build a market vocabulary list and practise polite requests.
  • Roles: Buyer and Stallholder.
  • Task: Buyer wants fruit, bread, and a souvenir within a £15 budget. Ask about prices, freshness, and discounts.
  • Targets: How much is…? / Do you have…? / two for… / That’s over my budget.

Role-Play 2 — Trainers with a Budget (B1)

  • Goal: Compare products and ask for sizes/colours.
  • Roles: Customer and Shop Assistant.
  • Task: Customer needs running shoes; try on two sizes, ask about a student discount, choose one pair.
  • Targets: Do these come in…? / Can I try…? / Is there a discount?

Role-Play 3 — Online Order Problem (B1–B2)

  • Goal: Practise returns and complaints.
  • Roles: Customer Service Agent and Customer.
  • Task: Delivery arrived late and item is damaged. Request refund or replacement; ask about return postage.
  • Targets: returns policy, refund, replacement, tracking number, faulty.

Printable idea: Create a single A4 “Role-Play Cards” sheet with the three scenarios, targets, and a mini word bank per role.

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Quick Reference: Shopping Phrases by Stage

Browsing: I’m just looking, thanks / Do you have this in… / Where are the fitting rooms?
Comparing: What’s the difference between… / Which one do you recommend?
Paying: Can I pay by card? / contactless / cash / Could I have a receipt?
Returns: It’s faulty / doesn’t fit / I’d like to exchange it / get a refund.

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Conclusion

Build your shopping vocabulary English learners actually use by practising short dialogues and role-plays. Add five new ESL shopping words each week, then recycle them in “real-world” tasks: checking sizes, comparing models, or returning items politely.

Keep your market vocabulary list handy before your next trip, and remember to ask for a receipt.

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Glossary Section

  • receipt (n.) — printed record of a purchase.
  • refund (n./v.) — money returned after you send an item back.
  • exchange (n./v.) — swap an item for a different one.
  • discount (n.) — price reduction.
  • warranty (n.) — promise to repair/replace within a period.
  • contactless (adj.) — pay by tapping a card/phone.
  • out of stock (adj.) — not available to buy now.
  • fitting room (n.) — place to try on clothes.
  • price-match (v.) — sell at the same price as a competitor.
  • returns policy (n.) — store rules for refunds/exchanges.

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Practise What You Learned

Questions

  1. Multiple choice: Which is the best question for a different size?
    A) How much is it?
    B) Do you have this in medium?
    C) Can you fix this?
    D) Where’s the bakery?
  2. True/False: “Out of stock” means the shop has plenty available.
  3. Short answer: Write one polite request to try on an item.
  4. Multiple choice: Which collocation is natural?
    A) do a refund
    B) give a receipt
    C) make a price-match
    D) create an exchange
  5. Gap fill:
    “Could you __________ this aside for me until tomorrow?” (put / take / build)

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Answers

  1. B
  2. False
  3. e.g., Could I try this on, please?
  4. B — give a receipt
  5. put