Spanish Shopping and Prices: DELE A1 Complete Guide
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Want to practice first? Try a General Shopping Quiz!
Key Takeaways
- Learn store types and shopping phrases in Spanish
- Master numbers for prices and quantities
- Understand “cuánto cuesta” and shopping questions
- Learn currency and payment vocabulary
- Essential for DELE A1 shopping tasks
Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish shopping and prices vocabulary, essential for handling transactions, understanding costs, and shopping in Spanish-speaking countries on the DELE A1 exam. This vocabulary is crucial for real-life situations tested in speaking and listening sections.
Types of Stores
Common Shopping Places
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| el supermercado | the supermarket | Compro comida en el supermercado |
| la tienda | the shop/store | La tienda vende ropa |
| el centro comercial | the shopping mall | Voy al centro comercial los sábados |
| la farmacia | the pharmacy | Compro medicina en la farmacia |
| la librería | the bookstore | Compro libros en la librería |
DELE A1 Tip: Remember that “librería” means bookstore, not library (which is “biblioteca”). This is a common false friend!
Shopping Vocabulary
Essential Shopping Terms
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| comprar | to buy | Compro pan cada día |
| vender | to sell | La tienda vende ropa |
| el precio | the price | El precio es bueno |
| el dinero | the money | Tengo dinero en el bolsillo |
| la caja | the cash register | Pago en la caja |
Asking About Prices
Price Questions and Responses
| Spanish | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | General price question |
| ¿Cuánto cuestan? | How much do they cost? | For multiple items |
| ¿Qué precio tiene? | What price does it have? | Formal price question |
| Cuesta… | It costs… | Stating price |
| Es muy caro/barato | It’s very expensive/cheap | Commenting on price |
Numbers and Prices
Using Numbers for Shopping
| Spanish Price | English Equivalent | Example |
|---|---|---|
| diez euros | ten euros | El libro cuesta diez euros |
| cinco dólares | five dollars | La camisa cuesta cinco dólares |
| veinte pesos | twenty pesos | El pan cuesta veinte pesos |
| cincuenta céntimos | fifty cents | El chicle cuesta cincuenta céntimos |
Currency and Payment
Money Vocabulary
| Spanish | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| el euro | the euro | Currency in Spain |
| el dólar | the dollar | Currency in many countries |
| el peso | the peso | Currency in Latin America |
| en efectivo | in cash | Pago en efectivo |
| con tarjeta | with card | Pago con tarjeta |
Shopping Dialogues
Common Store Interactions
Customer:
- Buenos días (Good morning)
- ¿Tiene…? (Do you have…?)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? (How much is this?)
- Quiero comprar… (I want to buy…)
Shop Assistant:
- ¿En qué puedo ayudarle? (How can I help you?)
- Sí, tenemos… (Yes, we have…)
- Cuesta… (It costs…)
- ¿Algo más? (Anything else?)
Quantities and Sizes
Shopping Measurements
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un kilo | a kilogram | Un kilo de manzanas |
| medio kilo | half a kilogram | Medio kilo de queso |
| una docena | a dozen | Una docena de huevos |
| un litro | a liter | Un litro de leche |
DELE A1 Exam Practice
Speaking Section Examples
- Ask about prices: “¿Cuánto cuesta este libro?”
- Make purchases: “Quiero comprar dos manzanas”
- Discuss shopping: “Voy al supermercado cada semana”
- Handle payments: “Pago en efectivo“
Writing Section Examples
- Write a shopping list
- Describe your shopping routine
- Write a dialogue in a store
- List prices of common items
Common Shopping Scenarios
Grocery Shopping
- Compro frutas y verduras (I buy fruits and vegetables)
- Necesito pan y leche (I need bread and milk)
- El precio total es 25 euros (The total price is 25 euros)
Clothing Shopping
- ¿Tiene esta camisa en talla M? (Do you have this shirt in size M?)
- ¿Puedo probármela? (Can I try it on?)
- Me queda bien (It fits me well)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wrong question form: ❌ “cuánto cuesto” ✅ “cuánto cuesta“
- Confusing currencies: ❌ “euros” in Mexico ✅ “pesos“
- Wrong verb: ❌ “soy compras” ✅ “voy de compras“
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to check your understanding of Spanish shopping and prices?
Take our DELE A1 Spanish Shopping Quiz here to confirm you’re ready for this part of the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A1 Journey?
- Ready for restaurants? Study Spanish Restaurant Vocabulary
- Need food terms? Review Spanish Food and Drinks Vocabulary
- Practice all A1 vocabulary? Take a Full A1 Vocabulary Test
Good luck with your DELE A1 preparation!
