Bite 15: How to Go Shopping in German

German in 100 bites by Dr. Mitar Pitzek

Bite 15:
How to Go Shopping in German
(A1 Level)

Innes Blog - Bite 15: How to Go Shopping in German

Before We Dive In

You step into a cozy shop in Vienna’s 7th district, full of handmade soaps and locally designed bags. A friendly Verkäuferin (shop assistant) smiles at you and says:
„Grüß Sie! Kann ich Ihnen helfen?“ („Hello, can I help you?“)
… and suddenly, your brain freezes. What do you say?

Whether you’re buying a coffee mug at a design market or hunting down the perfect winter scarf on Mariahilfer Straße – shopping in German can be a fun (and useful!) part of your language journey.

In this Bite, you’ll learn the essential phrases, vocabulary, and small talk you need to feel confident while shopping in German-speaking countries. Ready to go on a shopping trip – auf Deutsch?

1. Key Vocabulary for Everyday Shopping

Here’s a mix of useful food-related nouns, verbs, and adjectives to help you on your culinary journey:

German	English
das Geschäft / der Laden	the shop / store
der Supermarkt	the supermarket
der Markt	the market
das Produkt	the product
der Preis	the price
das Angebot	the special offer
der Verkäufer / die Verkäuferin	the shop assistant
der Kunde / die Kundin	the customer
die Kassa (AT) / die Kasse (DE)	the cash register

Verbs to Use While Shopping:

German	English
kaufen	to buy
bezahlen	to pay
kosten	to cost
brauchen	to need
schauen	to look (around)

Useful Adjectives:

German	English
teuer	expensive
billig / günstig	cheap / affordable
reduziert	discounted
neu	new
gebraucht	used / second-hand

2. Phrases You’ll Actually Use

How to ask for help:

„Entschuldigung, ich suche …“ (Excuse me, I’m looking for…)
„Haben Sie das in einer anderen Größe?“ (Do you have this in another size?)
„Kann ich das anprobieren?“ (Can I try this on?)

Talking about price:

„Wie viel kostet das?“ (How much does that cost?)
„Ist das im Angebot?“ (Is this on sale?)
„Das ist aber teuer!“ (That’s expensive!)

Ready to pay:

„Ich nehme das.“ (I’ll take this.)
„Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?“ (Can I pay by card?)
„Kann ich bar bezahlen?“ (Can I pay in cash?)
„Hier, bitte.“ (Here you go.)

3. Fun Practice Idea: Your Dream Shopping Day

Think of your perfect shopping day in Vienna. What would you buy at a traditional Naschmarkt stand? Or in a chic boutique? Write down five sentences using new words from this Bite – for example:

Ich kaufe eine neue Tasche.
Ich brauche Schokolade – viel Schokolade!

Try saying your sentences out loud. Or better: go shopping and try them in real life!

Summary

Shopping in German is fun, practical, and easy once you’ve got a few core phrases under your belt. In this Bite, you learned:

Useful words and phrases for stores, markets, and prices
How to ask questions, express preferences, and make purchases
A confident way to step into shops and practice your German in real life

Pro Tip from Dr. Mitar Pitzek

“You don’t need perfect grammar to shop – you just need courage!”
Start with the key phrases and don’t worry if you make mistakes. Most people will appreciate your effort and respond kindly. And hey – if you get stuck, just smile and point. Communication is more than just words!