Picture this: you're standing in a store, trying to ask a simple question, but the words just won't come out. Or you're reading a price tag and feeling confused about what "clearance" or "refund" actually means. Shopping in English shouldn't feel like a language exam.

The good news? Most shopping conversations use the same basic vocabulary over and over. Once you learn these 50 essential words, you'll understand store signs, talk to cashiers confidently, and even negotiate prices at markets. Whether you're grocery shopping, clothes hunting, or scrolling through online stores, these words will make your life so much easier.

Basic Shopping Actions

1. Buy

What it means: To get something by paying money for it.

How to use it:

  • "I need to buy milk and bread."
  • "Where did you buy that jacket?"
  • "She buys all her books online."

Tip: Past tense is "bought" (not "buyed"). This is the most basic shopping word you'll use constantly.

2. Purchase

What it means: To buy something (more formal than "buy").

How to use it:

  • "You can purchase tickets at the counter."
  • "I'd like to purchase this item, please."
  • "All purchases come with a receipt."

Tip: Same meaning as "buy," but sounds more professional. You'll see it on signs and hear it from store employees.

3. Shop

What it means: To look for and buy things from stores.

How to use it:

  • "I usually shop for groceries on Saturdays."
  • "Let's go shopping this weekend."
  • "She loves shopping for clothes."

Tip: "Shop" as a verb (to shop) means the activity. "Shop" as a noun means a small store. "Shopping" is the ongoing activity.

4. Browse

What it means: To look at things in a store without planning to buy anything specific.

How to use it:

  • "I'm just browsing, thank you." (to a salesperson)
  • "Feel free to browse our collection."
  • "We spent an hour browsing at the bookstore."

Tip: Perfect response when a store employee asks "Can I help you?" and you're just looking around.

5. Return

What it means: To bring something back to a store because you don't want it.

How to use it:

  • "Can I return this if it doesn't fit?"
  • "I need to return these shoes—they're too small."
  • "What's your return policy?"

Tip: Most stores have time limits for returns (like 30 days). Always keep your receipt.

6. Exchange

What it means: To replace something you bought with a different size, color, or item.

How to use it:

  • "Can I exchange this for a larger size?"
  • "I'd like to exchange this blue shirt for the red one."
  • "Exchanges must be done within 14 days."

Tip: Different from a return—you're swapping, not getting money back.

Money & Payment Words

7. Price

What it means: The amount of money you need to pay for something.

How to use it:

  • "What's the price of this bag?"
  • "The price includes tax."
  • "These shoes are a good price."

Tip: You "pay a price" or something "has a price." Don't confuse with "prize" (an award you win).

8. Cost

What it means: How much money something requires (can be noun or verb).

How to use it:

  • "How much does this cost?"
  • "The total cost is $45."
  • "It cost me $20."

Tip: As a verb, past tense is also "cost" (not "costed"). "This book cost $15 yesterday."

9. Pay

What it means: To give money for something.

How to use it:

  • "I'll pay with cash."
  • "Can I pay by card?"
  • "You can pay at the register."

Tip: Past tense is "paid" (not "payed"). "I paid $50 for this."

10. Charge

What it means: The amount of money asked for something, or to ask someone to pay.

How to use it:

  • "They charge $10 for delivery."
  • "How much did they charge you?"
  • "There's no charge for gift wrapping."

Tip: "Charge" can also mean to put on a credit card: "I'll charge it to my card."

11. Cash

What it means: Physical money (bills and coins).

How to use it:

  • "Do you accept cash?"
  • "I only have cash today."
  • "Cash or card?"

Tip: Some stores are becoming "cashless" and only take cards. Always good to ask first.

12. Change

What it means: The money you get back when you pay more than the price.

How to use it:

  • "Here's your change—$5."
  • "Can you give me change for a $20 bill?"
  • "Keep the change." (letting them keep it)

Tip: As a verb, it can also mean to exchange money: "Can you change this into smaller bills?"

13. Receipt

What it means: A paper or digital proof that you paid for something.

How to use it:

  • "Can I have a receipt, please?"
  • "I need the receipt to return this."
  • "Would you like your receipt emailed?"

Tip: Pronounce it "ree-SEET." Always keep receipts for things you might return.

14. Discount

What it means: A reduction in the usual price.

How to use it:

  • "Is there a student discount?"
  • "This item is 20% off the original price—that's a great discount!"
  • "Do you offer discounts for seniors?"

Tip: Usually shown as a percentage: "30% discount" means you pay 30% less.

15. Sale

What it means: When items are sold at lower prices than usual.

How to use it:

  • "There's a big sale this weekend."
  • "I bought this on sale for half price."
  • "The summer sale starts tomorrow."

Tip: "On sale" means discounted. "For sale" means available to buy. Big difference!

Store Locations & Sections

16. Store

What it means: A place where you can buy things.

How to use it:

  • "I'm going to the store to get some snacks."
  • "This store has good prices."
  • "The store opens at 9 AM."

Tip: Americans say "store," British often say "shop." Both are correct.

17. Mall

What it means: A large building with many stores inside.

How to use it:

  • "Let's meet at the mall."
  • "There's a new mall downtown."
  • "I spent three hours at the mall today."

Tip: Also called a "shopping mall" or "shopping center." Great for one-stop shopping.

18. Aisle

What it means: The walkway between shelves in a store.

How to use it:

  • "The cereal is in aisle 5."
  • "Excuse me, which aisle has the cleaning supplies?"
  • "I found it in the next aisle."

Tip: Pronounce it like "I'll" (the "s" is silent). Don't confuse with "isle" (an island).

19. Shelf

What it means: A flat surface in a store where products are displayed.

How to use it:

  • "The item you want is on the top shelf."
  • "Can you reach that box on the shelf?"
  • "This shelf is empty—they must be out of stock."

Tip: Plural is "shelves" (not "shelfs"). Pronounce it "shelvz."

20. Counter

What it means: The desk or table where you pay in a store.

How to use it:

  • "Please pay at the counter."
  • "Leave your items on the counter."
  • "The cashier is behind the counter."

Tip: Also called a "checkout counter" or just "checkout."

21. Checkout

What it means: The place where you pay for your items, or the process of paying.

How to use it:

  • "There's a long line at checkout."
  • "I'll meet you at the checkout."
  • "Self-checkout is faster today."

Tip: "Check out" (two words) is the verb: "I'm ready to check out now."

Product & Item Words

22. Item

What it means: An individual thing for sale.

How to use it:

  • "This item is out of stock."
  • "How many items are in your cart?"
  • "All items are final sale."

Tip: More formal than "thing." Commonly used on receipts and store signs.

23. Product

What it means: Something that is made to be sold.

How to use it:

  • "We have many beauty products."
  • "This product comes in three colors."
  • "What products are you looking for?"

Tip: More general than "item." Often used when talking about types of goods.

24. Brand

What it means: The name of a company that makes products.

How to use it:

  • "What brand of phone do you have?"
  • "I prefer this brand of coffee."
  • "Is this a name brand or generic?"

Tip: "Brand name" or "name brand" means expensive, well-known brands.

25. Size

What it means: How big or small something is (for clothes, shoes, etc.).

How to use it:

  • "What size do you wear?"
  • "Do you have this in a larger size?"
  • "I'm a size medium in shirts."

Tip: Clothing sizes vary by country. When traveling, always try things on.

26. Stock

What it means: The supply of products available in a store.

How to use it:

  • "Is this in stock?" (available to buy now)
  • "We're out of stock." (sold out, none left)
  • "New stock arrives on Friday."

Tip: "Out of stock" and "sold out" mean the same thing—they don't have it right now.

27. Quality

What it means: How good or well-made something is.

How to use it:

  • "This jacket is good quality."
  • "I prefer quality over quantity."
  • "The quality of this product is excellent."

Tip: "High quality" = very good. "Low quality" = not good, cheaply made.

Shopping Experience Words

28. Cashier

What it means: The person who takes your payment in a store.

How to use it:

  • "The cashier can help you with that."
  • "I used to work as a cashier."
  • "Please give your coupons to the cashier."

Tip: Pronounce it "cash-EER." They're usually at the checkout counter.

29. Customer

What it means: A person who buys things from a store.

How to use it:

  • "The customer is always right." (famous saying)
  • "We value our customers."
  • "Customer service can help you."

Tip: You're a customer when you're buying. The store serves customers.

30. Cart

What it means: A basket on wheels that you push around a store to carry items.

How to use it:

  • "I need to get a shopping cart."
  • "My cart is full already!"
  • "Leave your cart here while you browse."

Tip: British English: "trolley." American English: "cart" or "shopping cart."

31. Basket

What it means: A small container you carry to hold items while shopping.

How to use it:

  • "I only need a few things, so I'll take a basket."
  • "The baskets are by the entrance."
  • "My basket is getting heavy."

Tip: Smaller than a cart. Good for quick trips when you're buying just a few items.

32. Bag

What it means: What your purchases are put into after you pay.

How to use it:

  • "Do you need a bag?"
  • "Paper or plastic bag?"
  • "I brought my own reusable bags."

Tip: Many places now charge for plastic bags. Bring your own to save money and help the environment.

33. Fitting room

What it means: A small private space where you try on clothes.

How to use it:

  • "Where are the fitting rooms?"
  • "You can try that on in the fitting room."
  • "How many items are you taking to the fitting room?"

Tip: Also called "dressing room" or "changing room." Most stores have a limit on how many items you can take in.

34. Try on

What it means: To put on clothing in a store to see if it fits or looks good.

How to use it:

  • "Can I try this on?"
  • "I need to try on a few sizes."
  • "You should try it on before buying it."

Tip: Always a good idea with clothes and shoes. Sizes can vary between brands.

Price & Value Terms

35. Expensive

What it means: Costs a lot of money.

How to use it:

  • "This restaurant is too expensive."
  • "Designer bags are usually expensive."
  • "That's expensive! Is there a cheaper option?"

Tip: Opposite is "cheap" or "inexpensive." Be careful: "cheap" can sometimes mean low quality.

36. Affordable

What it means: Reasonably priced; not too expensive.

How to use it:

  • "These shoes are stylish and affordable."
  • "I'm looking for something more affordable."
  • "The store has affordable prices."

Tip: More polite than saying something is "cheap." Shows good value for money.

37. Deal

What it means: A good price or special offer.

How to use it:

  • "I got a great deal on this laptop."
  • "They have deals on electronics this week."
  • "That's a really good deal!"

Tip: "What a deal!" means you're excited about the good price you found.

38. Bargain

What it means: Something bought for a very good price.

How to use it:

  • "This dress was a bargain—only $10!"
  • "I love finding bargains."
  • "That's a real bargain."

Tip: Can also be a verb: "bargain" means to negotiate price, common in markets.

39. Free

What it means: Costs nothing; no payment required.

How to use it:

  • "Delivery is free on orders over $50."
  • "They're giving away free samples."
  • "Buy one, get one free!"

Tip: Everyone loves this word! "Free shipping" and "free returns" are big selling points.

40. Total

What it means: The complete amount you need to pay for everything.

How to use it:

  • "Your total comes to $35.50."
  • "What's the total with tax?"
  • "The total is shown at the bottom of the receipt."

Tip: This is the final number after adding everything, including tax and fees.

Special Shopping Situations

41. Refund

What it means: Money given back when you return something.

How to use it:

  • "Can I get a refund?"
  • "Refunds are processed within 5 business days."
  • "I'm waiting for my refund."

Tip: Different from exchange—with a refund, you get your money back and don't take another item.

42. Warranty

What it means: A promise from the seller to fix or replace a product if it breaks within a certain time.

How to use it:

  • "Does this come with a warranty?"
  • "The warranty covers repairs for one year."
  • "Save your receipt—you'll need it for the warranty."

Tip: Common for electronics and appliances. Read the terms carefully.

43. Clearance

What it means: Items sold at very low prices to get rid of them quickly.

How to use it:

  • "I found this in the clearance section."
  • "Everything is on clearance—up to 70% off!"
  • "Clearance items are final sale."

Tip: Clearance usually means the store won't restock these items. Great for bargain hunting.

44. Coupon

What it means: A ticket or code that gives you a discount.

How to use it:

  • "I have a coupon for 20% off."
  • "Do you accept digital coupons?"
  • "I forgot to use my coupon!"

Tip: Can be paper or digital. Always check expiration dates.

45. Gift card

What it means: A card with money on it that can be used to buy things at a specific store.

How to use it:

  • "I got a gift card for my birthday."
  • "Can I pay with a gift card?"
  • "This store sells gift cards at the counter."

Tip: Great gift when you're not sure what to buy someone. Check if there are expiration dates.

Online Shopping Words

46. Order

What it means: To request something to be delivered to you, or the items you requested.

How to use it:

  • "I ordered a new phone online."
  • "When will my order arrive?"
  • "There's a problem with my order."

Tip: As a noun (an order) or verb (to order). Common for both online and restaurant contexts.

47. Delivery

What it means: The service of bringing items to your home or another location.

How to use it:

  • "Free delivery on all orders."
  • "What's the delivery time?"
  • "My delivery arrived today."

Tip: "Deliver" is the verb: "They will deliver it tomorrow."

48. Shipping

What it means: The process and cost of sending items to you.

How to use it:

  • "How much is shipping?"
  • "Shipping takes 3-5 business days."
  • "I qualified for free shipping."

Tip: In online shopping, often used interchangeably with "delivery," but technically shipping is the transport process.

49. Track

What it means: To follow the location and status of your order as it travels to you.

How to use it:

  • "You can track your package online."
  • "Here's your tracking number."
  • "I've been tracking my order all day."

Tip: Most online stores send a tracking number so you know where your package is.

50. Review

What it means: Comments and ratings from customers who bought the product.

How to use it:

  • "Check the reviews before buying."
  • "This product has excellent reviews."
  • "I always read reviews first."

Tip: Super helpful when shopping online. Look for recent reviews and check both positive and negative ones.

Practice Section

Time to test yourself! Fill in the blanks with the correct word:

  1. "Excuse me, which ___ has the pasta?" (walkway between shelves)
  2. "I need a ___ for this purchase in case I want to return it." (proof of payment)
  3. "Can I ___ this on? I want to see if it fits." (put on clothing to test)
  4. "This sweater was a real ___—only $5!" (something at a very good price)
  5. "Do you have this in a different ___? This one is too small." (how big something is)
  6. "Your ___ is $42.75. Cash or card?" (final amount to pay)
  7. "I'm just ___, thanks." (looking without planning to buy)
  8. "Where can I find the ___ rooms?" (place to try on clothes)

Answers: 1. aisle, 2. receipt, 3. try, 4. bargain, 5. size, 6. total, 7. browsing, 8. fitting

Time to Hit the Stores

You now have 50 shopping words in your vocabulary toolkit. That's everything you need to walk into any store—physical or online—and handle the experience like a pro.

Here's my challenge for you: next time you go shopping, try to use or listen for at least five of these words. Notice them on signs, in conversations with cashiers, or in online descriptions. The more you recognize them in real situations, the more natural they'll become.

Shopping isn't just about buying things. It's about interacting with people, reading information, and making decisions. These 50 words are your keys to doing all of that confidently in English.

So grab your shopping bag (or your phone for online browsing), and put your new vocabulary to work. Happy shopping!