ESL Shopping Vocabulary

Shopping is something everyone has to do, so knowing ESL shopping vocabulary is very important. Without it you will not be able to buy clothes, food or anything else when you are in an English speaking country.

ESL shopping vocabulary can help you when you need to buy stuff and speak English.

This page has a vocabulary list of items that you should try to learn so you can understand ESL shopping vocabulary. The vocabulary items have also been included as flashcards, with many pictures, for you to download. These will help you learn the vocabulary items. After the list there is a recording of it being spoken by a native English speaker so you can hear how the words should be pronounced. This will help you when you need to speak about shopping. 

Then there are three exercises:

  • Identify the correct definition of a shopping word.
  • Identify the correct meaning of the definition of a shopping word.
  • Choose the correct name for an item in a picture.

ESL Shopping Vocabulary List with Definitions

The following list has ESL shopping vocabulary items for you to learn. After the list the vocabulary items are included on flashcards. Then there is a recording of them being spoken so you can listen to the pronunciation.

Afford: To have enough money to purchase an item or pay for a service. (verb)
Aisle: A long walkway with items for sale on either side. (noun)
Bag: A carrying aid with handles that is usually made from plastic or recycled material. (noun)
Baggy: When an item of clothing is excessively loose. (adjective)
Bakery: A shop which provides people skilled in preparing and selling pastries, cakes and bread. (noun)
Barcode: A small square filled with lines which when scanned by a computer provides an item’s name and price. (noun)
Bargain: The price of an item that is considered to be of very good value. (noun)
Basket: A hand held square shaped mesh container usually made from either metal or plastic which is used to hold items.  (noun)
Best before: The date before which an edible item is most delicious. (adjective)
Brand: The name of a product which is often associated with a certain price and quality. (noun)
Butchers: A shop which provides people skilled in preparing and selling meat. (noun)
Buy: An act of providing payment for goods. (verb)
Card machine: A machine which communicates with the customer’s bank for the purpose of paying for goods or services. (noun)
Cash: A rectangular piece of paper often known as a note which is used for payment of goods or services. (noun)
Cashier: A person who calculates the total cost and receives payment for the goods. (noun)
Change: A quantity of money to be returned to the person paying for goods or services usually when payment has been made with bank notes which total more than the amount requested. (noun)
Cheap: The cost of something considered to be reasonable and easily affordable. (noun)
Chemist: A shop which sells general and personally prescribed medication. (noun)
Cheque: A rectangular piece of paper which serves as a method of payment after the amount is written and signed by the account holder. (noun)
Clearance sale: A time when most items are reduced, usually due to the shop closing down. (noun)
Closed: A time when the product or service is not accessible to customers. (adjective)
Coin: A small thin piece of metal which is usually round and used for payment of goods or services. (noun)
Convenience store: A shop that is easily accessible to the general public that sells most things. (noun)
Credit/Debit card: A rectangular piece of thin plastic often with an electronic chip which is used for paying for goods or services. (noun)
Customer: A person who pays for goods or services.  (noun)
Delivery: The transportation of items from the shop to the customer’s preferred address. (noun)
Discount: A reduction in the original price of a product. (noun)
Estate agent: A shop which provides people skilled in selling land and property. (noun)
Exchange: An act of returning a previously purchased unwanted item and receiving another in its place. (verb)
Expensive: The cost of something considered to be excessive or unaffordable. (adjective)
Faulty: An item which does not satisfy its description or cannot fulfil its purpose. (adjective)
Fit: When an item of clothing is suitable for the size of the body. (verb)
Fitting cubicle: A small room used for changing clothes. (noun)
Florist: A shop which provides people skilled in cutting and arranging flowers. (noun)
Gift voucher: A rectangular piece of thick paper which represents money and can be used to buy goods to the value printed on its front. (noun)
Hanger: A triangular shaped piece of metal or plastic used to hold clothes in storage. (noun)
Label: A piece of paper printed with a description and attached to the item. (noun)
Loyalty card: A card provided by an establishment similar to the size of a credit card which is often used to collect points which can be exchanged for rewards. (noun)
Luxury items: Items which are fashionable but not a necessity. (noun)
Open: The time when the product or service can be accessed and paid for. (adjective)
Packaging: A protective material, usually plastic or cardboard, which surrounds the product prior to purchase. (noun)
Price: The monetary value of a particular item. (noun)
Purchase: An act of providing payment for goods. (verb)
Purse: A container, usually used by women, for holding bank cards, cash and occasionally coins. (noun)
Quality: The standard expected of a particular item. (noun)
Queue: The act of people standing behind one another to wait for a service. (noun)
Receipt: A long slip of paper which details the items bought and provides proof of purchase. (noun)
Refund: A return of the price paid which is usually subject to company policy. (noun)
Sale: A time where certain items are lowered from their original price. (noun)
Sales assistant: A person who ensures a comfortable shopping experience for the customer, usually by serving their needs and informing them of current offers. (noun)
Scales: A machine which weighs items to assist with calculating the price of a product. (noun)
Security tag: A device securely attached to a product to deter thieves. (noun)
Self-service: A machine used by customers to serve and pay for items by themselves. (adjective)
Shelf: A horizontal, strong piece of material used for displaying items. (noun)
Shop: A designated space which offers goods or services for payment. (noun)
Shopper: A person who visits a shop with the intention of buying an item. (noun)
Showroom: A building which has the purpose of displaying cars for purchase. (noun)
Size: A measurement of something, usually described as large, medium or small.  (noun)
Stock: A quantity of a particular product held by a shop. (noun)
Supermarket: A large shop with many departments which sells a wide range of items. (noun)
Till: A machine used to keep cash received from customers and to provide change if necessary. (noun)
Travel agent: A shop which provides people skilled in arranging trips and holidays. (noun)
Trolley: A large rectangular shaped mesh container usually made from metal which has wheels and is used to hold items. (noun)
Use by: The date when an edible item should be consumed by. (adjective)
Wallet: A pocket-sized flat container, usually used by men, for holding bank cards and cash. (noun)
Window shopping: The act of browsing products without the intention to buy. (verb)

Vocabulary Flashcards for ESL Shopping

Click on the following link to download the ESL shopping vocabulary flashcards as a pdf document. You can then print them and carry them with you so you can learn the items.

Shopping vocabulary flashcards 

Spoken Shopping Vocabulary

The following recording has the ESL shopping vocabulary items being spoken by a native English speaker. Listen to the list so you can learn the correct pronunciation. There is also a video of the flashcards being displayed as the items are pronounced.





ESL Shopping Vocabulary Exercises

Once you are sure that you know the ESL shopping vocabulary items listed above you can try the following exercises.

Exercise 1 – Correct Definition

Answer the five question in this exercise about the ESL shopping vocabulary. In each question chose the correct meaning (A-D) for the word given. Once you have finished, click on the button to get your score. The correct answers will be shown in the box at the end.

ESL Shopping Vocabulary Definitions


Choose the correct definition for the shopping vocabulary in this quiz.

1) What is the definition of Aisle?
        A) The date before which an edible item is most delicious.
        B) A long walkway with items for sale on either side.
        C) The cost of something considered to be reasonable and easily affordable.
        D) A shop which provides people skilled in cutting and arranging flowers.
2) What is the definition of Fitting cubicle?
        A) A small room used for changing clothes.
        B) A shop that is easily accessible to the general public that sells most things.
        C) A triangular shaped piece of metal or plastic used to hold clothes in storage.
        D) The time when the product or service can be accessed and paid for.
3) What is the definition of Expensive?
        A) The act of browsing products without the intention to buy.
        B) A measurement of something, usually described as large, medium or small.
        C) A time where certain items are lowered from their original price.
        D) The cost of something considered to be excessive or unaffordable.
4) What is the definition of Till?
        A) A machine used to keep cash received from customers and to provide change if necessary.
        B) The price of an item that is considered to be of very good value.
        C) A machine which communicates with the customer’s bank for the purpose of paying for goods or services.
        D) A time when most items are reduced, usually due to the shop closing down.
5) What is the definition of Label?
        A) The monetary value of a particular item.
        B) An item which does not satisfy its description or cannot fulfil its purpose.
        C) A piece of paper printed with a description and attached to the item.
        D) A person who ensures a comfortable shopping experience for the customer, usually by serving their needs and informing them of current offers.

Score =

Correct answers:

Exercise 2 – Correct Meaning

In this ESL shopping vocabulary exercise you need to choose the correct word (A-D) for each of the definitions given in the five questions. Click the button when you are finished to see your score.

ESL Shopping Vocabulary Identification of Meaning


Choose the word that matches the definition given in each of the five questions in this quiz.

1) What is the meaning of the following definition: A large shop with many departments which sells a wide range of items?
        A) Supermarket
        B) Till
        C) Travel agent
        D) Refund
2) What is the meaning of the following definition: A rectangular piece of thick paper which represents money and can be used to buy goods to the value printed on its front?
        A) Gift voucher
        B) Purse
        C) Quality
        D) Hanger
3) What is the meaning of the following definition: The price of an item that is considered to be of very good value?
        A) Bakery
        B) Card machine
        C) Afford
        D) Bargain
4) What is the meaning of the following definition: A shop which sells general and personally prescribed medication?
        A) Brand
        B) Coin
        C) Chemist
        D) Refund
5) What is the meaning of the following definition: A person who visits a shop with the intention of buying an item?
        A) Refund
        B) Scales
        C) Shopper
        D) Clearance

Score =

Correct answers:

Exercise 3 – Identify Picture

In each of the five questions in this exercise choose the ESL shopping vocabulary word that matches each of the pictures shown below. When finished click the button at the end to show the score.

ESL Shopping Vocabulary Picture Descriptions


Identify the best description for each of the images (A-E) given above that correspond to the five questions in this quiz.

1) Which description best describes picture A given above?
        A) Cashier
        B) Card machine
        C) Discount
        D) Fit
2) Which description best describes picture B given above?
        A) Convenience store
        B) florist
        C) Packaging
        D) Delivery
3) Which description best describes picture C given above?
        A) Trolley
        B) Refund
        C) Change
        D) Showroom
4) Which description best describes picture D given above?
        A) Florist
        B) Supermarket
        C) Use by
        D) Wallet
5) Which description best describes picture E given above?
        A) Quality
        B) Purse
        C) Shelf
        D) Receipt

Score =

Correct answers:

   Other Pages about Shopping that You Might Like

ESL Shopping Conversations
ESL Shopping Listening
ESL Shopping Reading
ESL Shopping Writing



› › Shopping

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