German - Shopping Questions

Lesson 105 of 158

A friendly shopper practicing German shopping phrases—great for English learners studying shopping and returns vocabulary.

Goal: Practical phrases for returns, availability, and politely browsing

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

Ready for a quick shopping run in German? This short lesson helps you handle common in-store moments: checking availability, asking about returns, and politely saying you're just looking. Have fun — a little retail confidence goes a long way!

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice ten useful shopping phrases for asking about availability, returns, exchanges, prices, and holding items. We'll hear the chunks, use them in a short conversation, and do quick exercises to lock in the meaning. (CEFR-aligned vocabulary for everyday shopping.)

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use A2-level phrases to ask about exchange and return rules.
  • Ask about availability, price, size, and delivery in a shop or online.
  • Politely decline help and ask staff to hold an item for you.
A small shop scene showing a customer and staff discussing availability and returns—useful for English learners practicing German shopping questions.

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.

Kann ich das umtauschen?

Can I exchange this?

Meaning: Can I exchange this?

When to use: Use for exchanging an item for another size, color, or product.

Kann ich das umtauschen, wenn es nicht passt?
Can I exchange this if it doesn't fit?
Kann ich das umtauschen und eine andere Größe nehmen?
Can I exchange this and take a different size?

Wie läuft das mit der Rückgabe?

What is the return policy?

Meaning: What is the return policy?

When to use: Natural spoken way to ask about return rules. More formal: „Wie sind die Rückgabebedingungen?“

Wie läuft das mit der Rückgabe, wenn ich online bestellt habe?
How does the return work if I ordered online?
Entschuldigung, wie läuft das mit der Rückgabe bei reduzierter Ware?
Excuse me, how does the return work for sale items?

Das passt nicht.

It doesn't fit.

Meaning: It doesn't fit.

When to use: Common for clothes, shoes, or an item being the wrong size.

Tip: Don't say 'Nicht passen' alone; use 'Das passt nicht.' with correct word order.

Das passt nicht; ist die nächste Größe größer?
It doesn't fit; is the next size larger?
Das passt nicht. Können wir das umtauschen?
It doesn't fit. Can we exchange it?

Das ist zu teuer.

It's too expensive.

Meaning: It's too expensive.

When to use: Direct and common; can sound blunt depending on tone.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 'Zu teuer ist das'—use 'Das ist zu teuer.'

Das ist zu teuer für mein Budget.
It's too expensive for my budget.
Für 50 Euro? Das ist zu teuer.
For 50 euros? That's too expensive.

Ich schau mich nur um, danke.

I'm just browsing, thanks.

Meaning: I'm just browsing, thanks.

When to use: Natural response to shop staff offering help. „schaue“ is the full form; „schau" is common in speech.

Ich schau mich nur um, danke — ich rufe, wenn ich Hilfe brauche.
I'm just browsing, thanks — I'll call if I need help.
Ich schau mich nur um, danke. Haben Sie dieses Modell in Blau?
I'm just looking, thanks. Do you have this model in blue?

Ist das noch verfügbar?

Is it still available?

Meaning: Is it still available?

When to use: Works for online listings and shops. In a store, also natural: „Haben Sie das noch?“

Ist das noch verfügbar in Größe M?
Is it still available in size M?
Auf der Webseite steht es ist ausverkauft. Ist das noch verfügbar?
The website says sold out. Is it still available?

Stimmt der Preis?

Is the price correct?

Meaning: Is the price correct?

When to use: Very common spoken phrase for checking a displayed or scanned price.

Stimmt der Preis? An der Kasse ist ein anderer Betrag.
Is the price correct? There's a different amount at the register.
Entschuldigung, stimmt der Preis auf dem Etikett?
Excuse me, is the price on the tag correct?

Können Sie das für mich zurücklegen?

Can you hold this for me?

Meaning: Can you hold this for me?

When to use: Uses polite „Sie", as is normal when speaking to shop staff in Germany.

Können Sie das für mich zurücklegen? Ich bin gleich wieder da.
Can you hold this for me? I'll be right back.
Wenn ich später komme, können Sie das für mich zurücklegen?
If I come later, can you reserve this for me?

Wie lange dauert die Lieferung?

How long does delivery take?

Meaning: How long does delivery take?

When to use: Common for online orders, furniture, appliances, or shipped items.

Wie lange dauert die Lieferung nach Berlin?
How long does delivery take to Berlin?
Wenn ich heute bestelle, wie lange dauert die Lieferung?
If I order today, how long will delivery take?

Welche Größe ist das?

What size is this?

Meaning: What size is this?

When to use: Best for clothes and shoes. For physical dimensions, use „Wie groß ist das?“

Welche Größe ist das? Ich suche Größe 38.
What size is this? I'm looking for size 38.
Welche Größe ist das auf dem Etikett?
What size is this on the label?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

In a clothing shop, Anna asks about availability and exchanging an item.

Anna asks about availability and exchanges at a store counter—an accessible German shopping dialogue for English learners.

What are Anna and David mainly discussing?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ist das noch verfügbar?

Is it still available?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ja, in Größe M.

Yes, in size M.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Welche Größe ist das?

What size is this?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Das ist Größe L.

That's size L.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Das passt nicht. Kann ich das umtauschen?

It doesn't fit. Can I exchange this?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Natürlich. Wie läuft das mit der Rückgabe? Ich erkläre es Ihnen.

Of course. What is the return policy? I'll explain it to you.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Können Sie das für mich zurücklegen?

Can you hold this for me?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

If you are just looking and want to decline help, which phrase is best?

Which phrase should you use to check a price that looks wrong?

You ordered furniture online and want to know when it will arrive. What do you ask?

If you want the shop to reserve an item until you return, you say:

Can I exchange this?

I bought this jacket yesterday but it doesn't fit. ___

Is the price correct?

Before I pay at the register I want to check the tag: ___

Is it still available?

The online ad says 'sold out' but I see a store listing. I ask: ___

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:

Kann ich das umtauschen?

Can I exchange this?

Say this phrase out loud:

Wie läuft das mit der Rückgabe?

What is the return policy?

Say this phrase out loud:

Das passt nicht.

It doesn't fit.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das ist zu teuer.

It's too expensive.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich schau mich nur um, danke.

I'm just browsing, thanks.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ist das noch verfügbar?

Is it still available?

Say this phrase out loud:

Stimmt der Preis?

Is the price correct?

Say this phrase out loud:

Können Sie das für mich zurücklegen?

Can you hold this for me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Wie lange dauert die Lieferung?

How long does delivery take?

Say this phrase out loud:

Welche Größe ist das?

What size is this?