Store and Shopping Conversation Phrases for English Learners

You can enrich your English with these essential store and shopping conversation phrases.

With these ESL shopping conversations you can practice and empower your English conversation. In this lesson we will learn, shopping vocabulary to help you shop or work in a store.

You can be a student, English learner, salesperson or a customer, learning or practicing these phrases could be a good start for you.

Asking about store hours

When are you open?
When do you open?
How late are you open (today)?
What are your hours?
Are you open on weekends?
Are you open on Saturday?

How to greet a customer as a salesperson

May I help you?
Can I help you?
Can I help you find something?
Can I help you with something?
Can I show you something?
Are you being helped?
Is someone waiting on you?
Is there anything I can help you with?
Is there anything I can help you with today?
Is there anything I can help you find today?

A salesperson offering help to a customer

If you need me, I’ll be right here.
If you need any help, I’ll be right here.
If you need me, my name’s Linda.
If you need any help, my name’s Linda.
If I can help you find anything, I’ll be right over here.
If I can help you, just let me know.
There’s a mirror over there.
The changing rooms are over there.
Only six items in the dressing room at a time.
Only six items allowed in the dressing rooms.

Questions a salesperson might ask a customer

What are you interested in?
Are you looking for something in particular?
Are you looking for anything in particular?
Do you have anything in mind?
Do you have something specific in mind?
Do you know what you want?
What size do you need?
Do you know what size you are?

Offering merchandise to a customer

I’ve got just your size.
I’ve got just what you’re looking for.
I’ve got exactly what you need.
I have just the thing.
Have I got something for you! (informal) May I suggest this?
That’s on sale this week.

Offering additional help to a customer

Do you need anything to go with that?
Is there anything else I can interest you in?
Is there anything else I can get for you?
Is there anything else I can help you with?
What else can I do for you?

Shopping for something at a department store

I’m looking for something for my wife.
I’m looking for something for my husband.
It’s a gift.
I need a size 34.
I don’t know my size.
Can you measure me?
Would you measure my waist, please?
I need a belt.
I need some jeans.
I need a pair of pants.
I need socks.
I need a pair of socks.
I need gloves.
I need a pair of gloves.
I need a bathing suit.
I need a swimsuit.

When you are just looking and not buying

I’m just browsing.
Thank you, I’m just looking.
Just looking around.

Choosing merchandise in a store

I just can’t make up my mind.
I’m not sure which I like.
Which do you prefer?

Questions a customer might ask in a store

Do you have this in blue?
Do you have this in suede?
Do you have this in wool?
Do you have this in a larger size?
Do you have this in a smaller size?
Do you have something a bit less expensive?
Do you have anything less expensive?
Got anything cheaper? (informal)
Do you have this in stock?
Do you have any more of these?
Do you have a shirt to match this?
Do you have a shirt to match?

When a customer wants to try on clothing

I’d like to try this on.
I want to try this on.
Can I try these on?
Where is the fitting room?
How many items can I take in the dressing room?

Encouraging remarks a salesperson might make to a customer

That looks nice on you.
That looks great on you.
That’s your color.
This is you!
It’s you!
That’s you!
That flatters you.
That’s very flattering.
That really flatters your figure.

Asking how a purchase will be paid for

How would you like to pay for this?
How do you want to pay for this?
How do you want to pay for this?
Will that be cash or credit?
Will that be cash or charge?
What method of payment will you use?
Do you have our store card?
Would you like to sign up for our store card?

When a salesperson cannot supply exactly what is wanted

We don’t have that in your size.
We don’t have it in that color.
We’re out of that item.
I can back-order that for you.
I can issue you a rain check.
It will be delivered to the store within a week.
We can notify you by phone or e-mail.
You can order it from our website.

When merchandise is not satisfactory

It’s too tight.
It’s too loose.
It’s too loose.
I don’t like the color.
I’ll have to keep looking for what I want.
It’s a little pricey.
pricey = expensive
It’s too expensive.

Asking about payment plans in a store

Is it on sale?
Will it be on sale soon?
Is it going on sale soon?
Can you hold it for me?
Will you hold it for me?
Do you have a layaway plan?
Do you take credit?
Can I apply for a credit card?
What financing options do you have?

Getting a purchase gift wrapped in a store

Can I get it gift wrapped?
May I get it gift wrapped?
Can I get this gift wrapped?
Where is the gift-wrap counter?
Is there a charge for gift wrapping?
Can you gift wrap that?
Would you please gift wrap that?