If you often travel around the world, you probably have no problem buying something. When travelling as a tourist, you most often visit souvenir shops, street food kiosks or some convenient supermarket where to get a sandwich and water before continuing with the tours. But if for any reason you have to live abroad, you will realize that shopping can be a challenge that you underestimated. Fortunately, big supermarkets today offer the convenience of having access to all the goods and choosing the product without having to name it. This will certainly help you when it comes to providing food, but shopping is not limited to providing supplies. when you need to buy something other than food, it is good to be able to communicate with sellers whose job it is to answer your questions, consult you and help you choose what is best for you, whether it is a garment, shoes, lipstick, accessories, and why not perfume. Here are some tips that will help you communicate in English while shopping.
How to communicate in English in the store
It is important to note that depending on what you want to shop first, you should get acquainted with the relevant vocabulary that will help you in the grocery store, in a clothing or shoe store, in the cafeteria or bakery or when choosing cosmetics and accessories. It's hard to list all the words we need here, and you don't have to. To do this, you only need to equip yourself with a dictionary and write down or learn the words that mark the goods you want. Here are some phrases that will help you ask, specify or comment on something in the shopping process:
- What most sellers say:
- Can I help you? The phrase is standard and not intended to bother you, but to give you a hint of who to turn to if you need a consultation.
- Are you being served?
- How much would you like? ♪ How much will you have?
- Do you want to try it on?
- Do you want to try them on? ▪ Would you like to try them on?
- What size are you? ▪ What size are you?
- What size do you take? ▪ What size do you take?
- How do they feel? ▪ How do you feel about them?
- Do they feel comfortable? " Are they comfortable?
- Anything else? ♪ Anything else?
- Would you like anything else?
- Would you like a bag?
- Do you need any help packing?
- Do you have a loyalty card? These are the most frequent lines of consultants and shop vendors while serving you. Of course, when shopping clothes or shoes for example, there may be further questions about color or matter. If you know exactly what you prefer, try to learn the words that describe it so that you can specifically state your requirements.
- How to ask and ask:
- I'm just browsing, thanks. We pay special attention to this phrase because it is quite useful when you wish to kindly explain that you prefer to be allowed to look at it without being disturbed. Very often, by translating it literally from Bulgarian, we tend to say . . I'm just looking. This is by no means wrong and will definitely understand you, and yet it is good to know the exact phrase.
- Do you sell …? ♪ Do you sell...?
- Do you have any …?
- I'm looking for …
- Could you tell me where the … is?
- It's not what I'm looking for ♪ Not what I'm looking for
- Do you deliver?
- I'll take this ♪ I'll take this
- I'd like to return this
- I'd like to change this for a different size
- It doesn't work
- Where's the fitting room? ▪ Where is the dressing room?
- It doesn't fit
- Could I have a refund?
- Do you take credit cards?
- I'll pay in cash
- I'll pay by card All you need to do is prepare yourself with the appropriate vocabulary, which you can add according to the specifics of shopping.
- How to find the right shop in another country
It is easy to navigate by name for food supermarkets, as well as when it comes to famous brands of clothes or shoes. But if you want to shop at local little shops, here are some clues:
-
- groceries - literally means grocery store, that is, a store where you can shop;
- butcher shop - Meat shop
- bakery - Bakery, bakery
- hardware, ironmongery, ironware - hardware store
- twenty-four-hour shop, convenience store Am - 24-hour shop
- clothes shop - Clothes Store
- computer shop [or store] - Computer shop
- self-service shop - Self-service store
- department store - Universal store
- antique shop, curiosity shop - antique shop
- duty-free, duty-free shop - Duty-free shop
- jeweller's shop - Jewelry store
- junk shop - junk shop
- virtual shop - virtual store
The Secret of Successful Shopping
We all want to shop for good, fast and get quality products. To achieve a satisfactory outcome, especially in a foreign country and environment where you are not yet well oriented, follow these simple rules: define your goal - that is, what kind of products you need and direct to the object; make a list - it will save you wandering and wondering at the counters whether you choose to shop in a large chain or in a neighborhood store; write down useful phrases in English - questions, colors, measures and all words that will be useful to you in order to buy what you want without unnecessary stress. Here are some more useful guides when you are on the spot in the store or checking the opportunities for most profitable shopping:
- Open Open
- Closed Closed
- Open 24 hours a day Open 24 hours a day
- Special offer Special offer
- Sale Sale
- Clearance sale Sale with discount (at the end of the season)
- Closing down sale Sale due to closure (close)
- Good value Good price (worth the money)
- Buy 1 get 1 free Buy 1 and get 1 for free
- Half price Half price
- Out to lunch We're closed for lunch.
- Back in 15 minutes We'll be back in 15 minutes.
- Menswear Male goods
- Womenswear or Ladieswear Women's or women's goods
- Childrenswear Children's goods
- Size Size
- S — Small S
- M
- L — Large L
- XL — Extra-large XL
Improve the Conversation English
Whether you enter the local grocery store, a clothing boutique or a neighborhood cafe on your way to work, first of all be kind - greet the staff at the entrance and say goodbye on your way out. If you are bright and positive, the people who will take care of you in the store will be much more willing to respond with your every effort. And this will guarantee you not only the desired purchase, but also a pleasant time spent and positive emotions. To learn more secrets of good communication that will help you get everything you want not only while shopping - look for us! Our teachers will gladly answer all your questions, guide and support you in improving your communications in English and any challenges that life in a foreign country puts before you. View the English language course online, where you will find further details about our teaching.
