How to Go Shopping in Spanish

One thing is certain: on your next trip to a Spanish speaking country, you will eventually need to go shopping. Whether you want to buy some gifts to take home or you need to replace your worn-out sneakers, shopping is something that any traveler does at some point. This is why today we’ll be looking at some of the most common Spanish phrases and vocabulary for shopping.

The Most Common Spanish Phrases for Shopping

While we’ve covered some of the most common phrases you’ll need for shopping in Spanish before, shopping is a process with different phases and possibilities. So, to keep this guide as practical as possible, let’s start by going over what normally happens.

First, when you enter a shop, the clerk usually approaches to assist you and asks:

• ¿Busca algo en especial? – Are you looking for anything in particular?
• ¿La* puedo ayudar en algo? – May I help you?

* They will say lo instead of la if the customer is a man.

How to Ask for Help or Say “I’m Just Looking” in Spanish

At his point, you can either accept or reject the clerks’ help. Some people find overly persistent shop clerks annoying, so when you prefer to have a look on your own, you can say:

• Sólo estoy viendo, gracias. – I’m just looking, thanks.

But when you do need some help, you can explain what you’re looking for.

• ¿Tiene… ? – Do you have…?
• Estoy buscando…  – I’m looking for…

If you enter a shop and nobody offers to help you simply find the clerk and ask:

• ¿Me puede ayudar? – Can you help me?

Once you have their attention, ask for what you need with:

• ¿Tiene este en talla mediana? – Do you have this in a medium?
• ¿Tiene este en azul? – Do you have this one in blue?

In this last sentence, este refers to a male, singular noun (el suéter, for example). If you’re talking about a feminine singular noun (la falda) use esta instead. For plural nouns, we have estos (los zapatos) and estas (las botas).  Next, the clerk might say:

• ¿Qué talla necesita? – What size do you need?
• No manejamos esa marca. – We don’t carry that brand.
• Lo tenemos agotado. – It’s sold out.
• ¿En qué color lo quiere? – What color do you want it in?

In the last two questions, lo refers to a masculine singular noun (el abrigo, for example). If you’re talking about a feminine singular noun (la chamarra), use la instead. For plural nouns just add an -s: los, las.

When you finally find clothes you’d like to try on, ask the following:

• ¿Me lo puedo probar? – Can I try it on?
• ¿Dónde me lo puedo probar? – Where can I try it on?
• ¿En dónde están los probadores? – Where are the fitting rooms?

Generally, after trying something on, the clerk will ask what you think.

• ¿Qué le pareció? – What do you think?
• ¿Se lo lleva? – Are you going to take it?

If you’re not sure if you want to buy it, answer:

• Lo voy a pensar. – I’ll think about it.
• No estoy segura.* – I’m not sure.

* A man would say “No estoy seguro.”

If you decide not to buy anything, you can explain why. This isn’t always necessary, but these phrases can come in handy:

• No me queda. – It doesn’t fit me. 
• Me queda muy ajustado. – It’s too tight.
• No me gusta cómo se me ve. – I don’t like how it looks on me.

You can also avoid any explanations and say something like:

• Voy a seguir buscando. – I’m going to keep looking. 

You might have a few more questions before making a decision.

• ¿Cuánto cuesta este? – How much is this one?
• ¿De qué material es? – What material is it made of?
• ¿Lo tiene en otro color? – Do you have it in a different color?
• ¿Hay cambios o devoluciones? – Do you take exchanges or returns?

Also, many stores in Mexico and Latin America don’t accept credit cards, so I strongly suggest you to ask in advance.

• ¿Acepta tarjeta? – Do you take credit cards?

If you decide to buy the clothes you tried on, let know the clerk by saying:

• Me lo llevo. – I’ll take it.

Or, if you tried a bunch of shoes and you’re only buying one pair, I specify which ones you want.

• Me llevo estos. – I’ll take these.
• Me llevo los negros. – I’ll take the black ones.

At the register, the cashier may tell you:

• Sólo efectivo. – Cash only.
• No tengo cambio. – I don’t have change.
• ¿No tiene un billete más chico? – Do you have a smaller bill?
• ¿No tiene cambio? – Do you have change?
• ¿Quiere bolsa? – Would you like a bag?
• ¿Quiere redondear? – Would you like to round up your total?*

*This is a common question when checking out in Mexico. Sometimes the business may be rounding up for a cause, but sometimes they don’t specify at all as to why you would want to round up the total.

How to Bargain in Spanish

Now, if you are shopping at a tianguis (open-air market), you will sometimes be expected to bargain. Especially if you are buying second hand objects. In this case, you can either use the phrases written above or you can turn to a more specialized way of speaking for this situation.

For example, to ask the price in this context, we say:

• ¿Cuánto pide por…? – How much are you asking for…?

The seller will probably answer:

• Deme $… – Give me $…

Then, of course, comes the counteroffer.

• Es demasiado caro. – It’s too expensive.
• Le doy $… – I’ll give you $…
• Tengo $… – I have $…
• No tengo más dinero. – I don’t have more money.
• Es lo único que tengo. – It’s all I have.

Sometimes sellers give a better price if you buy more than one item. So you can ask:

• ¿Y si me llevo tres? – And what if I take three?
• ¿En cuánto me los deja? – What price would you give me?

I know that talking in a foreign language to a native speaker may be complicated and even intimidating, but don’t worry. Most people are happy to see that someone is interested in their language and are willing to help. If you didn’t get what the other person said, just ask:

• ¿Lo puede repetir más despacio? – Can you repeat that more slowly?

LEARN HOW TO SAY “I DON’T UNDERSTAND” IN SPANISH IN 7 DIFFERENT WAYS.

Basic Spanish Vocabulary for Shopping

Finally, let’s have a look at some important words when going shopping.

Names of People

• El encargado, la encargada de la tienda – Clerk
• El o la gerente – Manager
• El cajero, la cajera – Cashier
• El vendedor, la vendedora – Seller

Money and Transactions

PREPARING FOR A TRIP TO MEXICO? NEED TO CONVERT YOUR US DOLLARS TO PESOS? DO YOU KNOW THE BEST WAY TO GET GREAT EXCHANGE RATE? DO YOU KNOW WHO’S ON MEXICO BILLS? WE ANSWER ALL THAT AND MORE ON THIS SPECIAL FEATURE ALL ABOUT MEXICAN MONEY.

• La moneda – Coin
• El billete – Bill
• El precio – Price
• La oferta – Sale
• El cambio – Change, exchange
• La devolución – Return
• Barato – Cheap
• Caro – Expensive
• Agotado – Sold out

Names of Shopping Places

• El centro comercial – Mall
• La tienda – Shop
• El aparador – Store window
• El mercado – Market
• El puesto – Stand
• El pasillo uno/dos/tres – Aisle one/two/three
• El primer/segundo/tercer piso – First/second/third floor

Shopping Signs

• Abierto – Open
• Cerrado – Closed
• Entrada – Entrance
• Salida – Exit
• Jale – Pull
• Empuje – Pull
• Horario de atención – Opening hours
• La caja – Register
• El probador – Fitting Room

Clothing Vocabulary

• La talla – Size
• La prenda – Piece of clothing
• La ropa – Clothing
• Chico/a – Small
• Mediano/a – Medium
• Grande – Large
• Ajustado/a – Tight
• Flojo/a – Loose

Shopping Verbs

• Buscar – To look for
• Comprar – To buy
• Devolver – To return
• Necesitar – To need
• Pagar – To pay
• Probar – To try on
• Quedar – To fit
• Querer – To want
• Regatear – To bargain
• Vender – To sell

LOOKING FOR HOW TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING IN SPANISH? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

Would You Like a Bag?

Whether you’re at a grocery store or el centro comercial (mall) you’ll undoubtedly get asked this question.

¿Desea una bolsa? – Would you like a bag?

It’s also common to hear ¿Quiere una bolsa?” Your response can be a simple sí (yes) or no (no). But if you don’t need a bag and want to be proactive you can say

Sin bolsa, por favor. – No bag, please.

Or

No necesito una bola, gracias. – I don’t need a bag, thank you.

Now It’s Your Turn – Tips for Success

Learning how to go shopping in Spanish is a huge topic! Before going shopping, search for the words you know you will need – the name of the object, its parts, color, material, and any other specification). This way, you’ll find it easier to communicate. Don’t forget it’s these little interactions that will improve your travel experience and, if you struggle when talking to a local, remember that making mistakes is part of the process of learning a language. As they say, practice makes perfect! Now get to practicing!