English to German Language Lesson: Shopping Vocabulary and Phrases

When you go shopping in Germany, Austria, or German Switzerland, you'll find a number of German words very useful. This lesson includes the basic vocabulary you need to find the stores you're looking for, talk to the salesperson, and have an enjoyable shopping spree.

Shopping Phrases and Pronunciation

There are a number of sentences and phrases that you are likely to encounter when shopping in a German-speaking country. From asking the price of an item to completing your transaction, this vocabulary list should cover most of the basics.

To give you a jump on your studies, the phonetic pronunciations for many of the trickier German words are included. They are only an approximate guide but will help you out considerably, especially if you're just beginning to learn German.

When entering a smaller German shop, it is customary to exchange hellos with the shopkeeper or sales clerk. Also, when leaving a shop in Austria or Germany, it is common for the customer and shopkeeper to exchange goodbyes.

If you travel to Germany at the right time of year, you might be able to get in on one of the two biggest sales many stores offer. The Sommerschlussverkauf happens in late summer and the Winterschlussverkauf typically occurs towards the end of winter.

English-German Glossary for Stores and Shops 

You will also find it useful to familiarize yourself with the various types of businesses (Geschäfte) and stores or shops (Läden) you may want to visit. Many of the most common are included in this next vocabulary list along with the items or services they offer.

Tip: For related vocabulary, do a Google.de or Yahoo.de search for the category you want to explore. For instance, to find the vocabulary for pastry or pastry shops, use the term Konditorei to find online sources of vocabulary (and pastries). A few other helpful examples and tips are located within the list.

Noun genders: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)
Abbreviations: adj. (adjective), Br. (British), n. (noun), pl. (plural), v. (verb)