German - Shopping

Lesson 104 of 158

Student practicing German shopping phrases in a clothing store; lesson on shopping vocabulary and polite questions.

Goal: Phrases for buying, trying, and paying

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This lesson helps you handle everyday shopping conversations in German. Practice asking where items are, checking prices, trying things on, and paying.

Level A2: In Lesson 104 you'll learn useful shop phrases like Ich suche..., Was kostet das?, Kann ich das anprobieren?, and Kann man bei Ihnen mit Karte zahlen?. This CEFR-aligned lesson focuses on asking for items, sizes or colors, prices, payment options, and returns — all in short, ready-to-use lines.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask where items are and say what you are looking for (A2).
  • Ask about price, discounts, and whether something is reduced.
  • Request different sizes or colors, ask to try items on, and confirm a purchase.
  • Ask about payment methods, receipts, and returns.
A shop scene where a learner asks about a jacket, price, and paying by card—perfect for practicing A2 shopping phrases.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Ich suche ___.

I'm looking for ___.

Meaning: I'm looking for ___.

When to use: Use to tell staff or a friend what item you want. Add the accusative object: eine Jacke, einen Adapter.

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget accusative endings (einen/eine) after 'suche'.

Ich suche eine Jacke für den Winter.
I'm looking for a jacket for winter.
Ich suche einen Adapter für mein Handy.
I'm looking for an adapter for my phone.

Wo finde ich ___?

Where can I find ___?

Meaning: Where can I find ___?

When to use: Ask staff where an item or department is located. Add Entschuldigung at the start for politeness.

Entschuldigung, wo finde ich die Socken?
Excuse me, where can I find the socks?
Wo finde ich die Elektronikabteilung?
Where can I find the electronics section?

Was kostet das?

How much is this?

Meaning: How much is this?

When to use: Point at an item and ask about its price. Very common in stores.

Was kostet das T-Shirt da?
How much is that T-shirt?
Was kostet das in Größe M?
How much is this in size M?

Haben Sie das in ___?

Do you have this in ___?

Meaning: Do you have this in ___?

When to use: Ask politely if the shop has the item in a different size, color or variant. For sizes say in Größe ___.

Tip: Remember to include 'in' for sizes (in Größe L) — omitting it sounds odd.

Haben Sie das in Größe L?
Do you have this in size L?
Haben Sie das in einer anderen Farbe?
Do you have this in another color?

Kann ich das anprobieren?

Can I try this on?

Meaning: Can I try this on?

When to use: Use when you want to try clothes, shoes, or glasses. For non-clothing items prefer ausprobieren.

Kann ich das anprobieren? Wo sind die Umkleidekabinen?
Can I try this on? Where are the fitting rooms?
Die Schuhe gefallen mir. Kann ich sie anprobieren?
I like the shoes. Can I try them on?

Kann man bei Ihnen mit Karte zahlen?

Do you take cards?

Meaning: Do you take cards?

When to use: Ask at the register whether the shop accepts card payments. Nice to ask if you don't carry cash.

Kann man bei Ihnen mit Karte zahlen oder nur bar?
Can one pay by card with you or only cash?
Bezahlen Sie auch kontaktlos? Kann man bei Ihnen mit Karte zahlen?
Do you accept contactless? Do you take cards?

Kann ich mit ___ bezahlen?

Can I pay in ___?

Meaning: Can I pay in/by ___?

When to use: Use to say your payment method: mit Karte, mit Bargeld, mit Kontaktlos. 'Mit' needs dative.

Tip: Remember 'mit' + payment method (mit Karte). Don't drop 'mit'.

Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?
Can I pay by card?
Kann ich mit Bargeld bezahlen oder nur mit Karte?
Can I pay with cash or only by card?

Gibt es das auch günstiger?

Is there a cheaper one?

Meaning: Is there a cheaper one?

When to use: Ask when you want a lower-cost version or a similar item for less money.

Gibt es das auch günstiger in einer anderen Marke?
Is there a cheaper one in another brand?
Das ist schön, aber gibt es das auch günstiger?
That's nice, but is there a cheaper one?

Das nehme ich.

I'll take it.

Meaning: I'll take it.

When to use: Say this to confirm you want to buy the item you chose.

Das nehme ich. Können Sie es bitte einpacken?
I'll take it. Can you pack it, please?
Das nehme ich, danke. Wie viel ist das zusammen?
I'll take it, thanks. How much is that in total?

Kann ich bitte einen Kassenbon bekommen?

Can I get a receipt, please?

Meaning: Can I get a receipt, please?

When to use: Ask at the end of the purchase for a Kassenbon (receipt). Quittung is more formal.

Kann ich bitte einen Kassenbon bekommen? Für die Garantie.
Can I please get a receipt? For the warranty.
Haben Sie einen Kassenbon für den Kauf?
Do you have a receipt for the purchase?

Ist das reduziert?

Is this on sale?

Meaning: Is this on sale?

When to use: Ask if the item currently has a reduced price or is in a sale section.

Ist das reduziert oder normaler Preis?
Is this reduced or the normal price?
Ist das reduziert? Gibt es einen Sale-Preis?
Is this on sale? Is there a sale price?

Gibt es einen Rabatt?

Is there a discount?

Meaning: Is there a discount?

When to use: Politely ask whether a discount or promotion applies to this item.

Gibt es einen Rabatt, wenn ich zwei kaufe?
Is there a discount if I buy two?
Gibt es einen Rabatt für Studenten?
Is there a discount for students?

Kann ich das zurückgeben?

Can I return this?

Meaning: Can I return this?

When to use: Ask about the store's return policy for an item you bought or want to buy.

Kann ich das zurückgeben, wenn es nicht passt?
Can I return this if it doesn't fit?
Kann ich das zurückgeben, wenn ich die Quittung habe?
Can I return this if I have the receipt?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna shopping for a jacket and completing the purchase.

Two people in a shop speaking German: asking where an item is, trying it on, and completing the purchase.

What does Anna decide to buy?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Entschuldigung, ich suche eine Jacke. Wo finde ich die Jacken?

Excuse me, I'm looking for a jacket. Where can I find the jackets?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Die Jacken sind im hinteren Bereich. Möchten Sie eine bestimmte Größe?

The jackets are in the back. Do you want a particular size?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Haben Sie das in Größe M? Kann ich das anprobieren?

Do you have this in size M? Can I try it on?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ja, hier. Was kostet das, wenn es passt?

Yes, here. How much is this if it fits?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Was kostet das? Ach so, das nehme ich.

How much is this? Oh, I'll take it.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Möchten Sie mit Karte zahlen? Kann ich bitte einen Kassenbon machen?

Would you like to pay by card? Can I make a receipt, please?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which German phrase asks 'How much is this?'

You want to try on a sweater. Which phrase do you use?

At the register you want to know if card payment is possible. Which is best?

How do you say 'I'll take it.' when you've decided to buy?

Anna tries on the jacket and says to the salesperson: 'Can I try this on?'

Anna probiert die Jacke an und sagt zur Verkäuferin: "___"

At the end of the shopping, Anna asks at the checkout: 'Can I get a receipt, please?'

Am Ende des Einkaufs fragt Anna an der Kasse: "___"

Anna sees a shirt and asks the seller: 'How much is this?'

Anna sieht ein Hemd und fragt den Verkäufer: "___"

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich suche ___.

I'm looking for ___

Say this phrase out loud:

Wo finde ich ___?

Where can I find ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Was kostet das?

How much is this?

Say this phrase out loud:

Haben Sie das in ___?

Do you have this in ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann ich das anprobieren?

Can I try this on?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann man bei Ihnen mit Karte zahlen?

Do you take cards?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann ich mit ___ bezahlen?

Can I pay with ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Gibt es das auch günstiger?

Is there a cheaper one?

Say this phrase out loud:

Das nehme ich.

I'll take it.

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann ich bitte einen Kassenbon bekommen?

Can I get a receipt, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ist das reduziert?

Is this on sale?

Say this phrase out loud:

Gibt es einen Rabatt?

Is there a discount?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann ich das zurückgeben?

Can I return this?