If you are like most tourists, when travelling abroad you probably like visiting local shops and markets to get a few souvenirs you can take home.
If that's the case and you are visiting a Spanish-speaking country, or if you are staying there a bit longer and want to be prepared for getting groceries and other goods, it will help to be prepared with a good Spanish shopping vocabulary. Keep reading to find some useful words and phrases for shopping in Spanish.
Cost and Value
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of shopping is probably money. Being able to ask how much things cost is essential if you want to make a purchase. You can review the numbers in Spanish here, but you'll also need some new vocabulary to go with them. Let's take a look at some words and phrases to discuss cost in Spanish.
Shopping Around
Of course, discussing cost isn't everything. Before you get there, you will need some vocabulary to find what you're looking for.
Finding Products
- ¿Dónde puedo comprar...? - Where can I buy...?
- La comida - Food
- El agua mineral - Mineral water
- Los medicamentos - Medicine
- El protector solar - Sunscreen
- El maquillaje - Make up
- La ropa - Clothes
- La camisa - Shirt
- El traje de baño - Swimsuit
- El sombrero - Hat
- Los zapatos - Shoes
- Los juguetes - Toys
- Los souvenirs - Souvenirs
- Las artesanías - Crafts
- Las postales - Postcards
- La lapicera - Pen
- El lápiz - Pencil
- El papel – Paper
- Los sellos – Postage stamps
Asking for what you want
Sometimes, finding the right store might not be enough. You may need to ask around before you get the exact product you want. The following phrases should help you do just that:
- Me gustaría comprar... - I would like to buy...
- ¿Tiene...? - Do you have...?
- ¿Lo puedo ver? - Can I see it?
- ¿Lo tiene en otro talle/color? - Do you have this in another size/color?
- ¿Lo tiene en...? - Do you have this in...?
- Pequeño - Small
- Mediano - Medium
- Grande - Large
- Extragrande - Extra large
- Rojo - Red
- Azul - Blue
- Amarillo - Yellow
- Blanco - White
- Negro - Black
- ¿Tiene otro modelo? - Do you have a different model?
- No nos queda. - We ran out.
- Me gusta. - I like it.
- No me gusta. - I don't like it.
- ¿Me lo puedo probar? - Can I try it on?
- Me queda grande. - It's too big on me.
- Me queda chico. - It's too small on me.
- ¿Tiene un talle más grande/chico? - Do you have a bigger/smaller size?
- ¿Tiene otra marca? - Do you have a different brand?
- ¿Tiene uno más barato? - Do you have a cheaper one?
All of this new vocabulary should help you shop around any Spanish-speaking country comfortably, but, whatever you do, never forget the two magic phrases: por favor y gracias (please and thank you). Happy shopping!