Stores and Shopping in Spanish: A1 Vocabulary Guide
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Key Takeaways
- Learn the Spanish names for different types of stores and shops
- Master essential shopping phrases for buying, asking prices, and payments
- Understand how to describe what you’re looking for and make purchases
- Practice complete shopping conversations in various store types
Shopping Made Easy in Spanish
Now that you can find your way around the city, let’s learn how to shop like a local! This guide covers everything from small boutiques to large supermarkets, giving you the vocabulary and phrases you need for successful shopping experiences.
Types of Stores (Tipos de Tiendas)
Different shops you’ll encounter in Spanish-speaking countries.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Store/Shop | la tienda | La tienda abre a las diez. (The store opens at ten.) |
| Supermarket | el supermercado | Hago la compra en el supermercado. (I do the shopping at the supermarket.) |
| Bakery | la panadería | El pan fresco está en la panadería. (Fresh bread is at the bakery.) |
| Butcher shop | la carnicería | Compro carne en la carnicería. (I buy meat at the butcher shop.) |
| Fish market | la pescadería | El pescado fresco en la pescadería. (Fresh fish at the fish market.) |
| Clothing store | la tienda de ropa | Compro camisas en la tienda de ropa. (I buy shirts at the clothing store.) |
| Shoe store | la zapatería | Necesito zapatos nuevos de la zapatería. (I need new shoes from the shoe store.) |
| Bookstore | la librería | Los libros de español en la librería. (Spanish books at the bookstore.) |
Shopping Vocabulary (Vocabulario de Compras)
Essential words for any shopping situation.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| To buy | comprar | Compro regalos para mi familia. (I buy gifts for my family.) |
| To sell | vender | Venden fruta fresca aquí. (They sell fresh fruit here.) |
| To pay | pagar | Pago con tarjeta de crédito. (I pay with credit card.) |
| Price | el precio | El precio es muy bueno. (The price is very good.) |
| Expensive | caro/cara | Este bolso es muy caro. (This purse is very expensive.) |
| Cheap | barato/barata | Esta camiseta es barata. (This t-shirt is cheap.) |
| Size | la talla / el tamaño | ¿Tiene esta talla? (Do you have this size?) |
| Color | el color | Me gusta este color. (I like this color.) |
Shopping Phrases and Questions
Essential expressions for successful shopping.
Asking for Help:
- “Disculpe, ¿puede ayudarme?” (Excuse me, can you help me?)
- “Estoy buscando…” (I’m looking for…)
- “¿Tiene…?” (Do you have…?)
- “¿Dónde están…?” (Where are…?)
Asking About Prices:
- “¿Cuánto cuesta?” (How much does it cost?)
- “¿Cuánto vale?” (How much is it worth?)
- “¿El precio es…?” (Is the price…?)
- “¿Tiene descuento?” (Is there a discount?)
Trying Things On:
- “¿Puedo probármelo?” (Can I try it on?)
- “¿Dónde están los probadores?” (Where are the fitting rooms?)
- “Me queda grande/pequeño.” (It’s too big/small for me.)
- “Me queda bien.” (It fits me well.)
Making Decisions:
- “Me lo llevo.” (I’ll take it.)
- “Lo quiero.” (I want it.)
- “Prefiero este.” (I prefer this one.)
- “Voy a pensarlo.” (I’m going to think about it.)
Payment and Checkout (Pago y Caja)
Vocabulary for completing your purchase.
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | efectivo / dinero en efectivo | Pago en efectivo. (I pay in cash.) |
| Credit card | tarjeta de crédito | ¿Aceptan tarjeta de crédito? (Do you accept credit cards?) |
| Debit card | tarjeta de débito | Pago con tarjeta de débito. (I pay with debit card.) |
| Receipt | el recibo / la factura | Necesito el recibo, por favor. (I need the receipt, please.) |
| Bag | la bolsa | ¿Puede darme una bolsa? (Can you give me a bag?) |
| Change | el cambio | ¿Tiene cambio para veinte euros? (Do you have change for twenty euros?) |
Store Sections and Products
Common areas and items you’ll find in stores.
Clothing Store Sections:
- Ropa de hombre – Men’s clothing
- Ropa de mujer – Women’s clothing
- Ropa infantil – Children’s clothing
- Calzado – Footwear
- Accesorios – Accessories
Supermarket Sections:
- Frutería – Fruit section
- Carnicería – Meat section
- Lácteos – Dairy products
- Panadería – Bakery section
- Bebidas – Drinks section
Putting It All Together: Shopping Dialogues
Clothing Store Dialogue:
Customer: “Disculpe, ¿tiene esta camisa en talla mediana?”
Salesperson: “Sí, aquí tiene. ¿Quiere probársela?”
Customer: “Sí, por favor. ¿Dónde están los probadores?”
Salesperson: “Al fondo a la derecha.”
(After trying)
Customer: “Me queda bien. ¿Cuánto cuesta?”
Salesperson: “Treinta euros.”
Customer: “Perfecto, me la llevo. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?”
Salesperson: “Claro que sí.”
Supermarket Dialogue:
Customer: “Disculpe, ¿dónde están los productos lácteos?”
Employee: “En la segunda fila, a la izquierda.”
Customer: “Gracias. ¿Y el pan fresco?”
Employee: “En la panadería, al final del pasillo.”
(At checkout)
Cashier: “Son veinticinco euros con cincuenta céntimos.”
Customer: “Pago con tarjeta. ¿Puede darme una bolsa, por favor?”
Cashier: “Por supuesto. Aquí tiene su recibo.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing “caro” (expensive) and “barato” (cheap)
- Using “grande” for clothing size (use “talla grande” not just “grande”)
- Forgetting gender agreement: “la camisa blanca” not “la camisa blanco”
- Regional variations: “El celular” (Latin America) vs “el móvil” (Spain) for cellphone
- Payment terms: “Efectivo” (cash) not “dinero” when referring to payment method
Quick Reference Chart
| Category | Spanish Words & Phrases |
|---|---|
| Store Types | tienda, supermercado, panadería, librería |
| Shopping Verbs | comprar, vender, pagar, probar |
| Price Questions | “¿Cuánto cuesta?” “¿Tiene descuento?” |
| Sizes & Colors | talla, color, grande, pequeño |
| Payment | efectivo, tarjeta, recibo, cambio |
Practice Exercise: Create a Shopping List
Try writing a shopping list in Spanish for these items:
- Food items (3-4 items)
- Clothing items (2-3 items)
- Personal care items (1-2 items)
Example: “Mi lista de compras: pan, leche, manzanas, una camisa azul, unos zapatos negros, y champú.”
Ready to Practice?
Think you can handle shopping conversations in Spanish? Test your store and shopping vocabulary!
Take our Stores & Shopping Quiz ► to make this vocabulary stick.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
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