German - Shopping

Lesson 157 of 158

Learner practising German shopping phrases in a cozy clothing store; helpful for shopping vocabulary.

Goal: Common phrases for trying on, sizing, and paying

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

Welcome to Lesson 157 — a quick, friendly shopping lesson for Germany. We'll practice short, useful phrases you can use in stores, from asking to try things on to paying at the register.

Level A1: In this CEFR-aligned mini-lesson you'll learn and practise 11 common German shopping phrases used in stores in Germany (asking about sizes and colors, trying things on, saying something doesn't fit, and paying). Lesson 157 focuses on realistic shop interactions so you can enter a store and feel ready to ask for help, try clothes, and pay.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and say simple store phrases at Level A1.
  • Ask for sizes and fitting rooms and respond when something doesn't fit.
  • Use polite forms for speaking with shop staff and ask about payment options.
A friendly shop scene in Germany where a customer and assistant use common shopping phrases for trying on clothes and asking about sizes.

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 schaue nur.

I'm just looking.

Meaning: I'm just looking.

When to use: A polite reply when shop staff ask if you need help. Use it to indicate you are browsing and not ready for assistance.

Danke, ich schaue nur.
Thanks, I'm just looking.
Ich schaue nur im Schaufenster.
I'm just looking in the shop window.

Haben Sie das in ___?

Do you have this in ___?

Meaning: Do you have this in ___?

When to use: Ask this formally in stores to request another color or size (e.g. “in Blau,” “in Größe M”). Use the formal 'Sie' with shop staff.

Tip: Don't use 'du' in a shop. Beginners sometimes say 'Hast du das?' — use 'Haben Sie...' with staff.

Haben Sie das in Blau?
Do you have this in blue?
Haben Sie das in Größe M?
Do you have this in size M?

Haben Sie das in meiner Größe?

Do you have this in my size?

Meaning: Do you have this in my size?

When to use: A formal, polite question to ask if the item is available in your size; useful after finding an item you like.

Tip: Don't say 'in meine Größe'. Use the correct form 'in meiner Größe'.

Entschuldigung, haben Sie das in meiner Größe?
Excuse me, do you have this in my size?
Diese Jacke — haben Sie das in meiner Größe?
This jacket — do you have it in my size?

Kann ich das anprobieren?

Can I try this on?

Meaning: Can I try this on?

When to use: Use this polite question when you want to try on clothes, shoes, or glasses.

Tip: Some learners say 'probieren' alone. For clothes use the separable verb 'anprobieren' (with 'an-').

Kann ich das anprobieren, bitte?
Can I try this on, please?
Kann ich das anprobieren? Wo ist die Umkleide?
Can I try this on? Where is the fitting room?

Wo kann ich das anprobieren?

Where can I try this on?

Meaning: Where can I try this on?

When to use: Ask this to find the fitting room or an area to try an item on.

Wo kann ich das anprobieren?
Where can I try this on?
Wo kann ich das anprobieren? Sind Umkleiden frei?
Where can I try this on? Are the fitting rooms free?

Das passt mir nicht.

It doesn't fit me.

Meaning: It doesn't fit me.

When to use: Say this after trying something that doesn't fit — 'mir' is dative here.

Die Schuhe passen nicht — das passt mir nicht.
The shoes don't fit — it doesn't fit me.
Danke, aber das passt mir nicht.
Thanks, but it doesn't fit me.

Das ist zu klein.

That's too small.

Meaning: That's too small.

When to use: Use this to describe an item that is too small for you (clothes, boxes, rooms, etc.).

Die Hose ist zu klein.
The trousers are too small.
Das ist zu klein — ich brauche eine größere Größe.
That's too small — I need a bigger size.

Das ist zu groß.

That's too big.

Meaning: That's too big.

When to use: Say this when something is too large (for clothes, shoes, or other items).

Das Hemd ist zu groß.
The shirt is too big.
Die Jacke ist zu groß — haben Sie eine kleinere Größe?
The jacket is too big — do you have a smaller size?

Ich nehme das.

I'll take this.

Meaning: I'll take this.

When to use: Use this when you decide to buy an item — common in shops, markets, and cafés.

Ich nehme das in Größe M, bitte.
I'll take this in size M, please.
Super, ich nehme das.
Great, I'll take this.

Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?

Can I pay by card?

Meaning: Can I pay by card?

When to use: Ask this at the register. In Germany it's helpful to ask since some places prefer cash; you can also say 'mit EC-Karte' for debit.

Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay by card?
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen oder nur bar?
Can I pay by card or only cash?

Bar oder mit Karte?

Cash or card?

Meaning: Cash or card?

When to use: A common quick question from staff at the checkout. 'Bar' means cash.

An der Kasse: Bar oder mit Karte?
At the checkout: cash or card?
Bar oder mit Karte? — Ich zahle mit Karte.
Cash or card? — I'll pay by card.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Short shop exchange at a clothing store

Two people in a fitting room area practicing short German phrases for asking to try things on and deciding whether to buy.

What does Anna ask to do?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Guten Tag! Kann ich Ihnen helfen?

Hello! Can I help you?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ich schaue nur, danke.

I'm just looking, thanks.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Kann ich das anprobieren?

Can I try this on?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Die Umkleide ist dort. Viel Erfolg!

The fitting room is over there. Good luck!

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Das ist zu klein.

That's too small.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Haben Sie das in meiner Größe?

Do you have this in my size?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ja, hier bitte. Bar oder mit Karte?

Yes, here you go. Cash or card?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which German phrase means 'Can I try this on?'

How do you ask a shop assistant 'Do you have this in my size?'

Which phrase would a cashier say to ask if you will pay cash or by card?

You decide to buy an item. Which phrase do you say?

At the register you have no cash and ask: 'Can I pay by card?'

At the register you have no cash and ask: ___

After trying a shirt that doesn't fit you say: 'It doesn't fit me.'

After trying a shirt that doesn't fit you say: ___

You want a different color and ask the assistant: 'Do you have this in blue?'

You want a different color and ask the assistant: ___

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 schaue nur.

I'm just looking.

Say this phrase out loud:

Haben Sie das in ___?

Do you have this in ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Haben Sie das in meiner Größe?

Do you have this in my size?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann ich das anprobieren?

Can I try this on?

Say this phrase out loud:

Wo kann ich das anprobieren?

Where can I try this on?

Say this phrase out loud:

Das passt mir nicht.

It doesn't fit me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das ist zu klein.

That's too small.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das ist zu groß.

That's too big.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich nehme das.

I'll take this.

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?

Can I pay by card?

Say this phrase out loud:

Bar oder mit Karte?

Cash or card?