Vocabulary · Travel
Shops in English
A2
Shops in English: types of shops, the people and places inside, prices and payment, and the verbs and phrases you need to go shopping. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Types of shops
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| shop / store(n.)“Let's go to the shop.” | a place where you buy things | /ʃɒp/ |
| supermarket(n.) | a big shop for food and household things | /ˈsuːpəmɑːkɪt/ |
| shopping centre / mall(n.) | a big building with many shops | /ˈʃɒpɪŋ ˈsentə/ |
| bakery(n.) | a shop that sells bread and cakes | /ˈbeɪkəri/ |
| butcher's(n.) | a shop that sells meat | /ˈbʊtʃəz/ |
| clothes shop(n.) | a shop that sells things to wear | /kləʊðz ʃɒp/ |
People and places in a shop
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cashier(n.) | the person who takes your money | /kæˈʃɪə/ |
| customer(n.) | a person who buys things in a shop | /ˈkʌstəmə/ |
| shop assistant(n.) | a person who helps you in a shop | /ʃɒp əˈsɪstənt/ |
| checkout / cash register(n.) | the place where you pay | /ˈtʃekaʊt/ |
| aisle(n.) | a passage between rows of shelves | /aɪl/ |
| shelf(n.) | a flat board for putting things on | /ʃelf/ |
Buying and paying
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| price(n.) | how much something costs | /praɪs/ |
| cash(n.) | money in coins and notes | /kæʃ/ |
| card(n.) | plastic money from your bank | /kɑːd/ |
| change(n.) | the money you get back | /tʃeɪndʒ/ |
| receipt(n.) | the paper that shows what you paid | /rɪˈsiːt/ |
| sale(n.) | a time when prices are lower | /seɪl/ |
| discount(n.) | a lower price than usual | /ˈdɪskaʊnt/ |
Verbs and phrases
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to buy(v.) | to get something by paying for it | /baɪ/ |
| to sell(v.) | to give something for money | /sel/ |
| to pay(v.) | to give money for something | /peɪ/ |
| to try on(v.) | to put on clothes to check them | /traɪ ɒn/ |
| How much is it?(phrase) | the question to ask the price | /haʊ mʌtʃ ɪz ɪt/ |
| I'll take it(phrase) | I want to buy this one | /aɪl teɪk ɪt/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
/rɪˈsiːpt/ ❌: the p in receipt is silent
Receipt (the paper you get after you pay) is pronounced /rɪˈsiːt/. The p is silent. In the same way, the b in debt is silent: /det/.
Shelfs ❌: say shelves
Shelf → shelves: the -f becomes -ves in the plural. It is the same for leaf → leaves and half → halves.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Shops
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
The “Shops” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
Every year, the English contest uses a wide range of cultural topics. Register your students so they can see what they really remember.
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Practise on PLAYShops: learn these words for good
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For teachers“Shops” vocabulary, ready for your lessons
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say you want to buy something in English?+
Say I'd like to buy + the thing: I'd like to buy this jumper. To try clothes: Can I try this on? To ask the price: How much is it? To pay: I'll pay by card or I'll pay in cash.
What is the difference between shop and store?+
Shop is British English and store is American English. In the US, people mostly say store. In the UK, shop is the traditional word, but some big shops are called stores too (a department store). Everyone understands both.
How do you pronounce receipt?+
/rɪˈsiːt/: the p is silent! Do not say /rɪˈsiːpt/. It is like debt /det/, where the b is silent. English spelling has many silent letters like these.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/shops
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.