How to talk about SHOPPING in English
Some people really love shopping, while others can’t stand it. But it is a necessary activity that we need to do regularly.
In this guide, I want to show you how to talk about shopping in English.
I will introduce the different kinds of shops we use when going shopping and then provide you with all the useful things we can say in English for shopping.
I cover lots of useful vocabulary and verbs and then I have given you many activities for you to use. You can do these activities in the classroom or in small groups with your friends. Many of them you can still do as one student alone.
There is a lot to cover here, so please take your time when reading this guide!
What Kind of Shops are there?
There are shops for everything you need to buy. In the UK and Australia, we use the word shop. In America and Canada, they use the word store. But they are the same thing.
Usually, we apply the word shop or store for the kind of shop that it is. For example, shoe shop, bookstore, clothes shop, sports store and so on.
This is a list of most shops and stores you need to know in English along with what you can buy there.
Baker/Bread Shop/Bread Store
In the bread shop, you can buy bread, cakes, pastries, croissants and other food made from flour. If the shop is a traditional bakery, then they make the bread and cakes on the premises. But many bread shops today are part of a chain and they have all the bread delivered to the shop every day.
Corner Shop
A corner shop is a British tradition. We can usually find a corner shop at the end of a local street in many neighbourhoods in towns and cities across the UK. Locals usually refer to it as The Corner Shop.
A mother might give her young son some money and say: “Go to the corner shop and buy some milk.”
The corner shop sells all kinds of household goods and simple food. It also sells newspapers, cigarettes, soft drinks and sometimes alcohol.
Market
Many towns have a market. You can find a market in some larger cities too. The market is usually an open-air space filled with stalls that sell different items.
There could be a fruit and vegetable market and this would only sell fruit and vegetables — and maybe some other food too. This is often known as a farmers market in America. In Asia, it is known as a wet market.
But there are markets for clothes, books, second-hand items and electronics.
Convenience Store
Convenience stores are originally from America. Probably the most well-known convenience store is 7-Eleven.
Convenience stores are like corner shops from Britain. The only difference being is that convenience stores are often open 24-hours.
We can now find them all over the world — each country has its own brand of convenience stores as well as the global brand 7-Eleven.
Butcher
This is a shop that sells all kinds of meat. A traditional butcher may be hard to find these days as the larger supermarkets have taken over.
A few years ago, a butcher shop would employ people that were trained in the meat industry. They understood how to cut the meat in the right way and could advise customers on different types of meat.
But now people usually buy meat in the supermarket.
Off License/Liquor Store
As the name implies, this is where you buy wine. You can also buy beer and stronger alcohol, such as whisky, vodka and gin.
In the UK, we use the term off-license. These shops operate on strict licensing laws. You can only buy alcohol if you are over the age of 18 and during certain times of the day.
In America, you must be over 21 to buy any alcohol and the licensing times of day may be different for each state.
As the name implies, this is where you buy wine. You can also buy beer and stronger alcohol, such as whisky, vodka and gin.
In the UK, we use the term off-license. These shops operate on strict licensing laws. You can only buy alcohol if you are over the age of 18 and during certain times of the day.
In America, you must be over 21 to buy any alcohol and the licensing times of day may be different for each state.
Computer Shop/Computer Store
This is where you buy computers and all computer parts and accessories.
The computer shop is usually privately owned and run by people that have a good understanding of computers. The shop may also run a service department where you can have your computer repaired.
Bookshop/Book Store
The book shop sells books!
Book shops are becoming quite rare these days. Years ago, it was easy to find two or three bookshops in any town. But larger book chains took over and the smaller shops died out. Examples of large book shop chains are Waterstones in the UK and Barnes & Noble in America.
But now even the larger chains are against competition as people buy digital books from Amazon.
Music Shop/Music Store
The music shop sells all kinds of musical instruments and accessories. The staff in the music shop are usually musicians, but not always.
Customers can often get music lessons in the music shop. They can learn to play guitar or piano.
Chemist/Drugstore/Pharmacy
In the UK, we say chemist or pharmacy. In America, they say drugstore or pharmacy.
This is where you buy all your medicine. You can buy medicine for a cough and common cold, for headaches and other minor ailments.
If you have a doctor’s prescription, the chemist can supply this medicine for you too.
Often the chemist sells other products, such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo and skin products.
Many countries have chain-store drugstores these days. These are like small supermarkets that sell a big range of health and beauty products as well as medicine.
Shopping Mall
The shopping mall concept originally started in America. Now we can see shopping malls all over the world.
Shopping malls are often very big. There could be several floors. You can buy cosmetics, women’s fashion, men’s fashion, shoes, electronics and home products.
There could also be an electronics department.
On the top floor, there might be a cinema. And in the basement, a food court. This is full of restaurants, and coffee shops.
Clothes Shop/Clothes Store
And the clothes shop sells clothes!
These days, we can usually find clothes shops in the shopping mall or department store. But you might still see them in town centres too.
Clothes shops usually cater for defined markets. So you might have a clothes shop that sells casual fashion wear for young people or smart clothes for the professional. There are many variations of clothes shops.
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Gift Shop/Gift Store
If you want to buy someone a special gift for their birthday or any other celebration, then you can visit the gift shop.
Gift shops sell items such as cups and other chinaware, simple kind of jewellery, scented candles, t-shirts and hats with a special slogan written on the front, board games, puzzles and simple decorations.
These places are ideal to buy someone a gift, but you have no idea what to give to them.
Florist/Flower Shop/Flower Store
The florist sells flowers and plants. Usually, a good florist or flower shop can advise you on which flowers and plants to buy. They can present the flowers in a beautiful bouquet too.
You can see flower shops everywhere but often near a hospital as people like to give hospital patients flowers.
Sport Shop/Sports Store
This is where you can buy all your sports clothing, accessories and equipment. The sports shop might sell top range sports shoes such as Nike and Adidas. But also lesser-known brands for tennis equipment or swimming or any other sport.
Greengrocer
This is a very old-fashioned shop that sells fruit and vegetables. We use the word ‘green’ for all the green healthy vegetables in the shop.
These days people usually buy their fruit and vegetables in a supermarket because it is more convenient. But you might still find a traditional greengrocer in a small town.
Camera Shop/Camera Store
If you need to buy a camera, then you go to the camera shop.
The camera shop sells cameras, camera accessories and other photographic equipment. The people that work in the camera shop usually have a very strong interest in photography and have great knowledge of cameras and camera equipment.
Some camera shops are still able to process traditional film stock. But these days most cameras are digital.
Ironmonger/Hardware Store
This is where you buy all kinds of tools for domestic use in the house or garden. Items include hammer, saw, screwdriver, nails and screws.
These shops are becoming rare as large chain stores catering to house and home have taken over.
Fishmonger/Fish Shop
If you want to buy fish for dinner, you can buy it in the fishmonger.
The fishmonger is also rapidly disappearing as people usually buy fish in the supermarket these days.
If you still have a traditional fishmonger in your town, then the people working there will be experts on what fish to eat and how to cook it.
Newsagent/News Kiosk
In the UK, a newsagent is a shop that mainly sells newspapers — Britain has many daily newspapers. But in other countries, people often buy a newspaper from a news kiosk. This is a very small store in the middle of the pavement/sidewalk. People can just stop and buy a newspaper very quickly without actually entering a shop.
Boutique/Fashion Store
This is a type of clothes shop. It is very fashionable and may sell clothing items unavailable in other shops or stores. The clothes could be unique and special.
Pet Shop/Pet Store
This is where people buy a pet.
You might see pet dogs or cats in the window to attract customers. The people working in the pet store must have a good knowledge of animals.
Some pet shops sell exotic pets — such as spiders, snakes or lizards.
Most pet stores sell pet accessories and some may sell animal health products.
Supermarket
There are supermarkets everywhere these days. This is where we buy our food — fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and eggs. Along with other household items such as soap or cleaning products.
Supermarkets are designed to be very convenient as we can buy all the regular household items under one roof.
Shoe Shop/Shoe Store
People buy shoes in a shoe shop.
You can find shoe shops everywhere, but these days they are very common in a shopping mall. You can also buy shoe accessories in a shoe shop such as laces and shoe cleaning products.
Jewellery Shop/Jewelry Store
If you need to buy jewellery, then this is where you come. A jewellery shop sells rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. They may also sell special stones like diamonds and rubies. They could also sell gold.
Please note the spelling:
Jewellery — British English
Jewelry — American English
Sweet Shop/Candy Store
And children love the sweet shop — some adults too!
The sweet shop is another dying tradition. Now, if people want to buy sweets or candy, they can buy it in the supermarket or the convenience store.
But years ago, sweet shops could be found easily. Usually near a school.
Department Store
This is a very large store usually with several floors and many shops or outlets on each floor. Department stores can be big, but not as big as a shopping mall.
You can buy clothes, shoes, electrical items and household products in a department store. Sometimes there is a supermarket in the department store.
Toy Shop/Toy Store
And this is where people go to buy toys.
This is another shop that is rapidly disappearing as people usually buy toys in large supermarkets, department stores or shopping malls. There are also large chain toy stores, but people buy many toys online too.
Optician
An optician is where you go to buy glasses.
You can also have your eyes tested here. The optician sells glasses and accessories for glasses. The staff are usually qualified to test people’s eyes.
Exercise
Read out loud all the above introductions to different shops and stores.
If you find any new words, write them down in your vocabulary notebook. Use a dictionary to find out the meaning of the new words. Then write a sentence of your own using the new words.
For example:
Croissant — a kind of French pastry made of rolled dough and butter. It is very light in texture.
I wanted to get some croissants for breakfast, so I went to the bread shop on the High Street.
Do this for all the new words. You should try to expand your vocabulary all the time!
Things People Say about Shops
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Look at the extracts of things people might say when talking about different shops. Practice these yourself by reading out loud. This will give you more confidence in speaking.
We’re very lucky because we have a traditional baker in our neighbourhood. They make fresh bread every day. Sometimes I like to go there and buy a loaf of bread. It still feels warm because it has just come out of the oven.
There’s an electronics market near my house. I’ve bought lots of things there. Many of the shops there sell reconditioned computers. I like to walk around this market. I don’t even need to buy anything there, but I just find the place very interesting.
I like to drink a glass of wine in the evening after dinner. And I usually buy my wine in the liquor store just down the road. They have a great selection. All the usual wine from France and Italy, but also the new world wine from places like Australia and Chile. And it’s not too expensive either.
On a Saturday, I like to go to the shopping mall with my friends. We do a bit of window shopping, sometimes I might buy something, but the shops in the mall can be a little expensive. Then we might go to Starbucks on the first floor and drink some coffee.
I am really into photography so I sometimes need to buy things, such as new camera equipment and accessories. I’m very lucky because we have this fantastic camera shop in the centre of town. The guys that work there know so much about the cameras and equipment they sell. I bought my camera there, and last week I also bought a new lens. Any time I have questions about photography I ask one of the people that work in the camera shop.
We bought our pet rabbit in the pet store near to us. They had a big selection of rabbits to choose from. And they helped us with all the other things we needed to look after the rabbit. So we bought a rabbit hutch there too. The rabbit likes to have straw in his hutch, so we get fresh straw from the pet shop every week.
I like the smell in the shop too. It just smells of animals and makes me think of nature.
I have to wear glasses so I find that I have to go to the opticians now and then. We have a great optician shop in the town centre and I have got to know the people who work there quite well. I might buy new glasses every two years or so. And when I do, the staff always tell me to have an eye test. They’re just very professional so I am glad they are there.
Exercise
Read through all the extracts. Find any new words you don’t know and write them in your vocabulary notebook. Use a dictionary to find the meanings and then make sentences of your own.
Read out loud all the extracts above. Say each one as if it is about you and your life.
Then change each extract to fit your own life. For example, the first extract is about a baker. Maybe you want to talk about a fruit and vegetable shop or a butcher. Or maybe you buy bread in the local supermarket.
You should try to talk about your own life and the shops in your neighbourhood. The more you do this, the easier it will get.
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