spanish shopping essay

Shopping in Spanish – A Complete Collection of Essential Phrases and Words

• September 14, 2020

Joanna Lupa

Whether you live in a Spanish speaking country or just spending your summer holiday there, you’ll indeed have to go shopping at least once in a while.

Be it simple groceries or hiking provisions, a beer or a glass of wine, cheap souvenirs, or local handicrafts; you’ll need to know how to ask about the price, complain if something is too expensive, or request a discount.

Bargaining is part of Latin American culture. Not in big stores or supermarkets, of course. But when you buy fresh fruit and vegetables at a local street market or get the last couple of souvenirs from a small artisan store, go for it!

A piece of advice: Latin Americans are as friendly and hospitable as it gets, but they are also known for often taking advantage of the naíve gringo (gringo is a term they use for foreign-looking – blue-eyed and blond-haired – tourists). So beware, check the local prices well and keep your wallet close to you.

11 Essential Phrases and Words for Shopping in Spanish

If you were only to know a few basic shopping vocabularies in Spanish, this is your must-know list:

• 🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto cuesta? – 🇬🇧 how much is it?
• 🇪🇸 Solo estoy mirando. – 🇬🇧 I’m just looking.
• 🇪🇸 Quiero comprar… – 🇬🇧 I want to buy…
• 🇪🇸 Me lo llevo – 🇬🇧 I’ll take it.
• 🇪🇸 ¡Es muy caro! – 🇬🇧 It’s very expensive!
• 🇪🇸 el precio – 🇬🇧 the price
• 🇪🇸 una tienda  – 🇬🇧 a store, a shop
• 🇪🇸 un descuento – 🇬🇧 a discount
• 🇪🇸 una oferta – 🇬🇧 an offer
• 🇪🇸 solo efectivo – 🇬🇧 cash only
• 🇪🇸 el vuelto – 🇬🇧 the change

Asking about Price in Spanish

Knowing how to ask about the price is one of the basic shopping skills. It will help you avoid misunderstanding and surprises when you see the bill or the receipt.

Below you will find a selection of different ways you can ask about the price in Spanish. 

🇪🇸 A: ¿Cuánto es? B: Son 5 euros. 🇬🇧 A: How much is it? B: It’s 5 euros.

🇪🇸 A: ¿Cuánto cuesta una cerveza? B: La pequeña cuesta 5 mil pesos y la grande 10 mil.  🇬🇧 A: How much does a beer cost? B: The small one costs 5 thousand pesos, and the big one ten thousand. 

🇪🇸 A: ¿A cómo está el kilo de naranjas? B: A 3 euros con quince centavos. 🇬🇧 A: How much for a kilogram of oranges? B: 3 euros and 15 cents. 

🇪🇸 A: ¿Cuánto le debo? B: Cinco mil quinientos diez pesos. Tiene moneda de 10? A: Si, aquí está.  🇬🇧 A: How much do I owe you? B: 5510 pesos. Do you have a 10-peso coin? A: Yes, here you are. 

🇪🇸 A:¿Tiene vuelto de 20 euro? B: Lamentablemente casi no me queda sencillo. 🇬🇧 A: Can you break a 20 euro bill/note? B: Unfortunately, I hardly have any small cash left.

In case you forget all the more complex questions, remember that a simple question word “ ¿quánto? – how much?” can take you a long way. 

Make sure to get all your Spanish question words straight. They are crucial every time you need to ask the locals for something. 

Names of Stores in Spanish

Depending on what it is that you want to shop for, you’ll need a different type of store. I’ve listed the most important ones below:

• 🇪🇸 un supermercado – 🇬🇧 a supermarket
• 🇪🇸 una tienda de abarrotes – 🇬🇧 a grocery store
• 🇪🇸 una panadería – 🇬🇧 a bakery
• 🇪🇸 una verdulería – 🇬🇧 a greengrocer’s
• 🇪🇸 una carnicería – 🇬🇧 a butcher’s
• 🇪🇸 una pescadería – 🇬🇧 a fish store
• 🇪🇸 una zapatería – 🇬🇧 a shoe store
• 🇪🇸 una librería – 🇬🇧 a bookstore (don’t confuse with a library, which is una biblioteca)
• 🇪🇸 una florería – 🇬🇧 a flower shop
• 🇪🇸 una joyería – 🇬🇧 a jewelry store
• 🇪🇸 una multitienda – 🇬🇧 a department store
• 🇪🇸 una tienda de mascotas – 🇬🇧 a pet store
• 🇪🇸 una tienda de regalos – 🇬🇧 a gift store
• 🇪🇸 una farmacia – 🇬🇧 a pharmacy / a drugstore
• 🇪🇸 una feria – 🇬🇧 a street market
• 🇪🇸 un centro comercial / un mall – 🇬🇧 a shopping center / a mall

As you can see, many store names in Spanish are based on the name of the product they specialize in plus the “ía” ending. 

🇪🇸 pescado – 🇬🇧 fish 🇪🇸 pescadería -🇬🇧 fish store

🇪🇸 flor – 🇬🇧 flower 🇪🇸 florería – 🇬🇧 flower shop

and so on, and so forth.

To ask where certain stores are, you’ll have to review another essential skill: Spanish directions . Without them, how can you understand and follow other people’s indications?

Hopefully, these few mini-dialogues help refresh your memory:

🇪🇸 A: ¿Hay un supermercado cerca? B: Si, a unas cinco cuadras más arriba. 🇬🇧 A: Is there a supermarket close to here? B: Yes, about 5 blocks up the street.

🇪🇸 A: ¿Dónde hay una farmacia, por favor? B: Camine hasta los semáforos y despúes doble a la izquierda.  🇬🇧 A: Where’s a pharmacy, please? B: Walk until the traffic lights and then turn left.

🇪🇸 A: Señor, ¿dónde queda la panadería más cercana? B: Si bien recuerdo hay una en la calle Rosario un poco más allá. 🇬🇧 A: Where is the nearest bakery, sir? B: If I remember correctly, there is one on the Rosario street a little further. 

🇪🇸 A: Estoy buscando una buena zapatería. B: Hmmm, creo que va a tener que ir al centro comercial. Por acá no hay ninguna. 🇬🇧 A: I’m looking for a good shoe store. B: Hmmm,  I’m afraid you’ll have to go to the shopping mall. There is none nearby.

🇪🇸 Test Your Spanish Knowledge 🇪🇸

Another useful vocabulary group related to stores and shopping in Spanish is telling the time and naming days of the week . They will help you ask about and understand the opening hours and timetables.

🇪🇸 ¿A qué hora abre el centro comercial? 🇬🇧 What time does the shopping center open?

🇪🇸 Lo siento, la librería cierra a las seis y media. 🇬🇧 Sorry, the bookstore closes at 6:30 PM.

🇪🇸 Nuestra verdulería abre de 8AM a 4PM. 🇬🇧 Our greengrocer is open from 8 AM to 4 PM. 

🇪🇸 ¿Qué días de la semana está abierta la feria? 🇬🇧 What days of the week is the street market open?

Shopping in a Supermarket 

Grocery shopping is something you most definitely can’t do without even if you live or stay abroad. After all, we all need to eat, don’t we?

Supermarkets and other self-service stores are a lifesaver for those who feel shy about their Spanish speaking skills. Yet, a minimum conversation and shopping vocabulary are required even there. 

Have a look: 

• 🇪🇸 un carrito – 🇬🇧 a shopping cart / a trolley
• 🇪🇸 un canasto – 🇬🇧 a basket
• 🇪🇸 una caja – 🇬🇧 a cash counter
• 🇪🇸 un cajero / una cajera – 🇬🇧 a cashier (masculine and feminine)
• 🇪🇸 el supervisor – 🇬🇧 the supervisor
• 🇪🇸 una fila / una cola – 🇬🇧 a line / a queue
• 🇪🇸 un pasillo – 🇬🇧 an aisle
• 🇪🇸 lactéos – 🇬🇧 dairy
• 🇪🇸 confites- 🇬🇧 sweets, candy
• 🇪🇸 los electrodomésticos – 🇬🇧 home appliances (a toaster, a microwave oven and such)
• 🇪🇸 vestuario – 🇬🇧 clothes
• 🇪🇸 los congelados – 🇬🇧 rozen products
• 🇪🇸 una bolsa – 🇬🇧 a bag
• 🇪🇸 una boleta / un comprobante / un recibo – 🇬🇧 a receipt
• 🇪🇸 una factura – 🇬🇧 an invoice
• 🇪🇸 servicio al cliente – 🇬🇧 customer service
• 🇪🇸 un empaquetador – 🇬🇧 a supermarket packer

The person described at the bottom of the list, empaquetador , is someone who helps you pack your groceries for some small change. They are usually college students who try to earn a few extra coins on weekends or whenever they don’t have classes. 

What are some basic shopping phrases in Spanish that you might need in a supermarket? 

Here are a few suggestions:

🇪🇸 Necesito un carrito. 🇬🇧 I need a shopping cart.

🇪🇸 ¿Tienen más canastos? 🇬🇧 Do you have more baskets?

🇪🇸 ¿En qué pasillo están los lácteos? 🇬🇧 What aisle is dairy in?

🇪🇸 ¿Dónde encuentro papel aluminio? 🇬🇧 Where do I find tin foil? 

🇪🇸 No alcanzo la repisa de más arriba. 🇬🇧 I can’t reach the top shelf.

🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto cuestan las bolsas de papel? 🇬🇧 How much are the paper bags?

🇪🇸 Hay un error en mi recibo. 🇬🇧 There is a mistake in my receipt.

🇪🇸 Quiero hablar con el supervisor, por favor. 🇬🇧 I’d like to talk to the supervisor, please.

🇪🇸 ¿Tienen empaquetadores? 🇬🇧 Do you have packers?

🇪🇸 ¿Dónde queda el servicio al cliente? 🇬🇧 Where’s customer service?

🇪🇸 ¿Tienen papel de regalo? 🇬🇧 Do you have wrapping paper?

And what can you get asked in a supermarket? Get ready and practice your reply:

🇪🇸 A: ¿Cómo paga? B: Con tarjeta de crédito / en efectivo. 🇬🇧 A: How are you paying? B: With a credit card / in cash.

🇪🇸 A: ¿Le gustaría donar parte de su vuelo? B:  Claro, 50 pesos. 🇬🇧 A: Would you like to donate part of your change? B: Sure, 50 pesos.

🇪🇸 A: ¿Le ayudo a embolsar las cosas? B:  Si, muchas gracias. 🇬🇧 A: Can I help you to bag the things? B: Yes, thanks a lot. 

How to Shop for Souvenirs in Spanish

Being a tourist in a Spanish speaking country, you’ll probably want to take some souvenirs home with you. Something special for your close family – local handicraft jewelry, clothes or accessories, or a jar of handmade jam perhaps, and a few cheap knick-knacks for your workmates.

• 🇪🇸 un recuerdo- 🇬🇧 a souvenir
• 🇪🇸 un regalo – 🇬🇧 a gift
• 🇪🇸 artesanía – 🇬🇧 handicraft
• 🇪🇸 una feria de artesanía – 🇬🇧 an artisan market
• 🇪🇸 un llavero – 🇬🇧 a key ring
• 🇪🇸 un imán – 🇬🇧 a magnet
• 🇪🇸 una postal- 🇬🇧 a postcard
• 🇪🇸 hecho a mano – 🇬🇧 handmade
• 🇪🇸 casero – 🇬🇧 homemade
• 🇪🇸 100 % de lana – 🇬🇧 100% wool
• 🇪🇸 de madera – 🇬🇧 wooden
• 🇪🇸 de plata – 🇬🇧 silver
• 🇪🇸 de oro – 🇬🇧 gold
• 🇪🇸 vestimenta típica – 🇬🇧 typical outfit
• 🇪🇸 música folklorica – 🇬🇧 folk music

The souvenir vocabulary from this list and the sample sentences below will surely come in handy. 

🇪🇸 Busco un bonito recuerdo para mis hijos. 🇬🇧 I am looking for a nice souvenir for my children.

🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto cuestan los llaveros? 🇬🇧 How much are the keyrings?

🇪🇸 Quiero cinco imanes diferentes. I want five different magnets.

🇪🇸 ¿Qué es esto? 🇬🇧 What is this?

🇪🇸 ¿De qué está hecho? 🇬🇧 What is it made of?

🇪🇸 ¿Para qué sirve? 🇬🇧 What do you use it for?

🇪🇸 ¿Qué piedra es? 🇬🇧 What stone is it? (talking about jewelry)

🇪🇸 ¿Está hecho a mano? 🇬🇧 Is it handmade?

🇪🇸 ¿Es comestible? 🇬🇧 Is it eatable?

🇪🇸 ¿Tiene alcohol? 🇬🇧 Does it have a lcohol?

🇪🇸 ¿Cómo funciona? 🇬🇧 How does it work?

🇪🇸 ¿Aceptan tarjetas? 🇬🇧 Do you accept cards?

🇪🇸 ¿Puedo pagar en dólares? 🇬🇧 Can I pay in dollars?

🇪🇸 ¿Cuál es la tasa de cambio? 🇬🇧 What’s the exchange rate?

🇪🇸 OK, me lo llevo. 🇬🇧 OK, I’ll take it.

🇪🇸 ¿Me lo puede envolver para regalo? 🇬🇧 Can you gift-wrap it?

🇪🇸 ¿Me lo puede guardar hasta mañana? 🇬🇧 Can you put it aside for me by tomorrow?

Buying Groceries in Spanish

What if there is no supermarket at sight and you are hungry and in desperate need of groceries? You’ll have to brave up and stand face to face with a grocer around the corner. 

Shopping in Spanish – show time!

First of all, make sure to learn the names of the products you need:

• 🇪🇸 leche entera – 🇬🇧 whole milk
• 🇪🇸 leche semidescremada – 🇬🇧 semi-skimmed milk
• 🇪🇸 leche descremada – 🇬🇧 nonfat / skimmed milk
• 🇪🇸 pan – 🇬🇧 bread
• 🇪🇸 pan integral – 🇬🇧 wholemeal bread
• 🇪🇸 queso – 🇬🇧 cheese
• 🇪🇸 huevos – 🇬🇧 eggs
• 🇪🇸 jamón – 🇬🇧 ham
• 🇪🇸 yogur – 🇬🇧 yoghurt
• 🇪🇸 mantequilla – 🇬🇧 butter
• 🇪🇸 crema / nata – 🇬🇧 cream
• 🇪🇸 una lata de atún – 🇬🇧 a can of tuna
• 🇪🇸 una caja de cereales – 🇬🇧 a box of cereals
• 🇪🇸 mermelada – 🇬🇧 jam
• 🇪🇸 helado – 🇬🇧 icecream
• 🇪🇸 sal – 🇬🇧 salt
• 🇪🇸 arroz – 🇬🇧 rice
• 🇪🇸 tallarines / fideos – 🇬🇧 pasta
• 🇪🇸 cerveza – 🇬🇧 beer
• 🇪🇸 refresco, gaseosa bebida – 🇬🇧 soda
• 🇪🇸 agua mineral – 🇬🇧 mineral water
• 🇪🇸 con gas – 🇬🇧 sparkling
• 🇪🇸 sin gas – 🇬🇧 still, flat (about water)
• 🇪🇸 vino – 🇬🇧 wine
• 🇪🇸 sin lactosa – 🇬🇧 lactose-free
• 🇪🇸 sin gluten – 🇬🇧 gluten-free

I am also adding a bunch of useful questions and basic requests. If you are a native-English speaker, bear in mind that Spanish speaking countries use the metric system. Milk and juice are usually sold by the liter and flour, sugar, rice, and such – by the kilogram. 

🇪🇸 ¿Tiene pan integral? 🇬🇧 Do you have wholemeal bread?

🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto cuesta una botella de Malbec? 🇬🇧 How much is a bottle of Malbec (wine)?

🇪🇸 Quiero un litro de leche entera y un kilo de harina, por favor.   🇬🇧 I’d like a liter of whole milk and a kilogram of bread, please.

🇪🇸 ¿Le queda helado de vainilla?  🇬🇧 Do you have any vanilla ice cream left?

🇪🇸 Cinco láminas de queso, por favor. 🇬🇧 Five slices of cheese, please. 

🇪🇸 A: ¿Algo más? B: No, eso es todo, gracias.  🇬🇧 A: Anything else? B: No, it’s all, thanks.

In case you wonder what the most common containers are in Spanish , these are:

• 🇪🇸 un paquete (de galletas) – 🇬🇧 a pack (of cookies)
• 🇪🇸 una bolsa (de azúcar) – 🇬🇧 a bag (of sugar)
• 🇪🇸 una botella (de jugo) – 🇬🇧 a bottle (of juice)
• 🇪🇸 una lata (de cerveza)- 🇬🇧 a can (of beer)
• 🇪🇸 una barra (de mantequilla) – 🇬🇧 a bar (of butter)
• 🇪🇸 una caja (de leche) – 🇬🇧 a carton (of milk)
• 🇪🇸 un frasco (de mermelada) – 🇬🇧 a jar (of jam)
• 🇪🇸 un sobre (de cilantro seco) – 🇬🇧 an sachet (of dried coriander)

Shopping for Fruit and Vegetables in Spanish – relevant vocabulary

On your way back from the grocery store, you might want to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables. If you are looking for good quality and affordable prices (or “las tres B ” as they say in Spanish) – Bueno, Bonito y Barato – which translates as Good, Pretty and Cheap ), I suggest you consider street markets. They are very popular in Latin America and quite easy to find.  

• 🇪🇸 una manzana- 🇬🇧 an apple
• 🇪🇸 una pera – 🇬🇧 a pear
• 🇪🇸 uvas – 🇬🇧 grapes
• 🇪🇸 una fresa – 🇬🇧 a strawberry
• 🇪🇸 una frambuesa – 🇬🇧 a raspberry
• 🇪🇸 una piña – 🇬🇧 a pineapple
• 🇪🇸 un plátano / una banana  – 🇬🇧 a banana
• 🇪🇸 una ciruela – 🇬🇧 a plum
• 🇪🇸 un melocotón / un durazno – 🇬🇧 a peach
• 🇪🇸 un limón- 🇬🇧 a lemon 
• 🇪🇸 una lechuga- 🇬🇧 a lettuce
• 🇪🇸 un tomate – 🇬🇧 a tomato
• 🇪🇸 un aguacate/ una palta – 🇬🇧 an avocado
• 🇪🇸 una zanahoria – 🇬🇧 a carrot
• 🇪🇸 un repollo / una col – 🇬🇧 a cabbage
• 🇪🇸 una cebolla – 🇬🇧 an onion
• 🇪🇸 un ajo – 🇬🇧 garlic
• 🇪🇸 un brócoli – 🇬🇧 a broccoli
• 🇪🇸 una coliflor – 🇬🇧 a cauliflower
• 🇪🇸 perejil – 🇬🇧 parsley

🇪🇸 Un kilo de manzanas, por favor.  🇬🇧 A kilogram of apples, please.

🇪🇸 ¿Están maduras las peras? 🇬🇧 Are the pears ripe?

🇪🇸 ¿Está fresca la lechuga? Is the lettuce fresh?

🇪🇸 Un manojo de perejil y cuatro cabezas de ajo, por favor. 🇬🇧 A bunch of parsley and cuatro heads of garlic, please

🇪🇸 ¿Cu ánto pesa este racimo de uvas, por favor? 🇬🇧 How much does this bunch of grapes weigh, please?

🇪🇸 ¿Tiene algunas hierbas frescas? 🇬🇧 Do you have any fresh herbs?

🇪🇸 Estas frambuesas no se ven muy bien. ¿Me las puede cambiar por otras? 🇬🇧 These raspberries don’t look too well. Can you change them for others?

Visits to local stores and markets are the best listening comprehension practice you could get. When I first came to Chile, I absolutely dreaded talking to real people, and at first, I wouldn’t understand a single word they said. However, with some patience and persistence, I got better and better at no time. 

Clothes and Accessories and How to Shop for Them in Spanish

Here’s a treat for my female readers. Shopping for clothes is a guilty pleasure most of us share, isn’t it? I know that there are men who also enjoy visits to clothing stores. Unfortunately, my husband isn’t one of them.

• 🇪🇸 una falda- 🇬🇧 a skirt
• 🇪🇸 una camisa – 🇬🇧 a shirt
• 🇪🇸 un vestido – 🇬🇧 a dress
• 🇪🇸 pantalones – 🇬🇧 pants
• 🇪🇸 camiseta / polera / remera – 🇬🇧 a T-shirt
• 🇪🇸 una blusa  – 🇬🇧 a blouse
• 🇪🇸 un abrigo – 🇬🇧 coat
• 🇪🇸 un impermeable – 🇬🇧 a raincoat
• 🇪🇸 una chaqueta – 🇬🇧 a jacket
• 🇪🇸 un suéter / un jersey / un chaleco – 🇬🇧 a sweater
• 🇪🇸 una sudadera / un polerón- 🇬🇧 a sweatshirt
• 🇪🇸 un buzo – 🇬🇧 a tracksuit
• 🇪🇸 zapatos – 🇬🇧 shoes
• 🇪🇸 zapatillas – 🇬🇧 sneakers / trainers
• 🇪🇸 chalas / sandalias – 🇬🇧 sandals
• 🇪🇸 chanclas / havaianas – 🇬🇧 flip-flops
• 🇪🇸 un traje de baño – 🇬🇧 a swimsuit
• 🇪🇸 un bolso – 🇬🇧 a bag
• 🇪🇸 una mochila – 🇬🇧 a backpack
• 🇪🇸 una cartera de cuero – 🇬🇧 a leather handbag
• 🇪🇸 un cinturón – 🇬🇧 a belt
• 🇪🇸 gafas de sol / lentes de sol – 🇬🇧 sunglasses
• 🇪🇸 un sombrero – 🇬🇧 a hat
• 🇪🇸 una gorra  – 🇬🇧 a cap
• 🇪🇸 una bufanda – 🇬🇧 a scarf
• 🇪🇸 guantes – 🇬🇧 gloves
• 🇪🇸 calcetines – 🇬🇧 socks

Specific clothes vocabulary might vary from country to country. You’ll most likely notice quite big differences between Latin Spanish and Spanish from Spain .  

What are the phrases that you, as a customer, will most likely need when shopping for clothes? Below you’ll find quite a few of them:

🇪🇸 Necesito una talla más grande / más pequeña, por favor. 🇬🇧 I need a larger / smaller size, please.

🇪🇸 ¿Lo / la tiene en la talla 8?  🇬🇧 Do you have it in size 8? – depending on if the item of clothing is masculine or feminine in Spanish, you will use lo or la . 

🇪🇸 ¿Lo / la tiene en otro color?  🇬🇧 Do you have it a different color?

🇪🇸 Busco una blusa blanca de manga corta. 🇬🇧 I’m looking for a short-sleeved white blouse.

🇪🇸 ¿Este chaleco es de lana? 🇬🇧 Is this sweater made of wool?

🇪🇸 Esta tela no parece ser de buena calidad. 🇬🇧 This fabric doesn’t seem to be of good quality.

🇪🇸 ¿Dónde están los probadores? 🇬🇧 Where are the fitting rooms?

🇪🇸 ¿Dónde encuentro ropa deportiva? 🇬🇧 Where do I find the sportswear section?

🇪🇸 Me lo / la quiero probar.  🇬🇧 I’d like to try it on. – again, the choice between lo and la will depend on the grammatical gender of the garment

🇪🇸 ¿Cómo me queda? 🇬🇧 How does it look on me?

🇪🇸 Me queda un poco apretado/a. 🇬🇧 It looks a little too tight. 

🇪🇸 Te queda demasiado suelto. 🇬🇧 It looks too loose on you.

🇪🇸 Las rayas no me favorecen. 🇬🇧 Stripes don’t look flattering on me. 

🇪🇸 Busco zapatos cómodos, sin tacones.  🇬🇧 I’m looking for comfortable, flat shoes. ( literally : without heels)

🇪🇸 ¿Tiene un cinturón que combine con esta cartera? 🇬🇧 Do you have a belt that matches this handbag?

🇪🇸 ¿Aceptan devoluciones? 🇬🇧 Do you allow refunds (for returned clothes)?

🇪🇸 Vengo a hacer un cambio, por favor. 🇬🇧 I’m coming to exchange the product. 

And these are some of the things you might hear from the shop assistant: 

🇪🇸 ¿Le puedo ayudar en algo? 🇬🇧 Do you need any help?

🇪🇸 ¿Qué talla necesita? 🇬🇧 What size do you need?

🇪🇸 ¿Se lo/la quiere probar? 🇬🇧 Do you want to try it on?

🇪🇸 ¿Cuántas prendas tiene? 🇬🇧 How many garments do you have?

🇪🇸 Los cambios solamente con boleta / recibo. 🇬🇧 We only allow exchange with receipt.

🇪🇸 Estos zapatos tienen 3 meses de garantía. 🇬🇧 These shoes have a 3-month warranty. 

How to bargain in Spanish

It might not be a part of your culture, but you can definitely give bargaining a try in Spanish speaking countries. Of course, as long as you know where and with whom.

Shopping for souvenirs at an artisan market? Yes. 

Buying books in a book-store? Definitely not. Unless it is a small one, you are being attended by its owner, paying cash, and making a big purchase.

Interested in putting your price negotiation skills to practice? Here are your basics:

• 🇪🇸 regatear – 🇬🇧 to bargain
• 🇪🇸 una ganga – 🇬🇧 a bargain
• 🇪🇸 un descuento / una rebaja – 🇬🇧 a discount
• 🇪🇸 una liquidación – 🇬🇧 a sale
• 🇪🇸 rebajar el precio – 🇬🇧 to lower the price
• 🇪🇸 barato – 🇬🇧 cheap
• 🇪🇸 caro – 🇬🇧 expensive
• 🇪🇸 un robo – 🇬🇧 a steal

🇪🇸 ¿Me da un descuento si pago en efectivo? 🇬🇧 Can you give me a discount if I pay in cash?

🇪🇸 ¿Me puede hacer algún descuento si compro varios? 🇬🇧 Can you offer a discount if I buy several (of a certain product)?

🇪🇸 Es demasiado caro. 🇬🇧 It is too expensive.

🇪🇸 ¿Cuál es su mejor precio? 🇬🇧 What’s your best price?

🇪🇸 ¡Es un robo! 🇬🇧 It’s a steal!

🇪🇸 Me está cobrando demasiado. 🇬🇧 You’re charging me too much.

🇪🇸 ¿En cuanto me lo deja todo? 🇬🇧 How much if I take all these things?

🇪🇸 Lo vimos mucho más barato en la otra tienda. 🇬🇧 We saw it much cheaper in the other store.

🇪🇸 ¿Este producto está en liquidación? 🇬🇧 Is this product on sale?

🇪🇸 Hay un error. Debería estar con 20 por ciento de descuento. 🇬🇧 There is a mistake. It should be 20% off.

🇪🇸 Lo siento, este producto no tiene descuento. 🇬🇧 Sorry, this product doesn’t have any discount.

🇪🇸 Uno por tres dólares y cuatro en diez. 🇬🇧 One for three dollars and four for ten.

🇪🇸 No lo encontrará más barato. 🇬🇧 You won’t find it any cheaper.

🇪🇸 Le ofrezco un 5% de descuento si paga en efectivo. 🇬🇧 I can offer 5% off if you pay in cash.

🇪🇸 Lo siento, es la mejor oferta que le puedo dar. 🇬🇧 Sorry, it’s the best price I can offer. 

Have you noticed how these same bargaining phrases can be successfully used in a Business Spanish context as well? 

Thanks for reading! If you stayed with me until the end of this post, I officially declared you trained to shop in Spanish. 

Spanish Resources

Tú vs. vos vs. usted vs. vosotros vs. ustedes – master them in 1 hour, different types of spanish connectors with 55 best conversational examples, spanish slang for friend – how to tell someone he is your “bro”, your spanish journey starts here, privacy overview.

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Common Spanish Shopping Vocabulary

What you want, the Spanish-speaking world has got it. But money won’t get you everything you’ve been dreaming of—you need the right words and phrases to get you to the right shops (and to get you the right prices), such as mercado  (market) and ¿Cuánto cuesta?  (How much is it?).

Until you learn how to shop in Spanish like the locals do, you may find yourself getting treated (and priced) as a tourist, so read on to read on to find out more. 

Ir de compras — Going shopping

Las tiendas — the shops, ¿dónde comprar — where to buy, cositas — little things, textiles — textiles, cómo pedir — how to ask, calidad — quality, tamaños y tallas — sizes, hablar del precio — talking about prices, regateo — bargaining, getting a discount, lowering the price even more, reasoning with the seller, and one more thing….

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Ready to go shopping in Spanish? Let’s begin!

• entrada — entrance
• salida — exit
• horario de atención — business hours
• abierto — open
• cerrado — closed You might notice a sign saying something like cerrado al mediodía  (closed at noon).   They may not mean exactly at noon, but the idea is that the store will be shut down for a lunch hour.
• feriado (Latin America), festivo (Spain) / puente — holiday/long weekend

And just so you don’t make a fool of yourself by angrily forcing the doors in the wrong direction:

• empuje — push
• jale (Latin America), tire  (Latin America/Spain) — pull

Need to know where to buy things? You’ll need to ask for the right type of store.

• local — storefront
• tienda — shop/store 
• tiendita — literally “little shop,” usually means “convenience store”
• boutique — boutique
• almacén — storehouse, large shopping depot
• mercado — market
• supermercado — supermarket
• mercado artesanal / feria artesanal — artisanal market This is going to be the place for souvenirs ( recuerdos ) that have been handcrafted ( hechos a mano ) .
• ferretería — hardware store
• centro comercial — mall
• centro de compras — shopping center
• agencia de viajes — travel agency
• cafetería — café, buffet, snack bar
• carnicería — butcher
• licorería — liquor store
• panadería — bakery
• pastelería — pastry/cake shop
• frutería — fruit shop
• pescadería — fish stand
• peluquería — hair salon
• farmacia — pharmacy
• floristería / florería — flower shop
• gasolinera — gas station Store this word in your brain while traveling Latin America, as this is often a good place to go for bathrooms, ATMs and making change for large bills.
• joyería — jewelry store
• juguetería — toy store
• librería — book store This false friend  sounds like “library,” but a library is actually a  biblioteca
• papelería — paper/office supply store
• tienda de ropa — clothing store
• tienda de deportes — sports store
• tienda de música — music store
• zapatería — shoe store

If you only know what you want to buy, but you don’t know where it might be, ask either of the following questions:

• ¿Conoce un lugar donde realizan … ? — Do you know a place where they make/do/perform … ?
• ¿C onoce un lugar donde venden … ? — Do you know where they sell … ?

Now, if you want some local opinions to factor into your decision-making, strike up a conversation with somebody and ask:

• ¿C onoce algún … por aquí cerca? — Do you know of a … around here?

You can even get more specific and explain what kinds of qualities you hope for this place to have, using a question like:

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• ¿ Dónde queda la tienda de ropa más (cercana / económica / chévere)? — Where is the (closest/cheapest/coolest) clothing store?

All you have to do is insert another kind of store aside from tienda de ropa  and you’ll be ready to ask about anything.

When you’re faced with a couple of good options but don’t know which one might be best, ask somebody:

• ¿Cuál me recomienda? — Which one do you recommend to me?

You’re going to want to be able to say all kinds of things. If you’re looking for  food and restaurant  vocabulary, we’ve already got you covered. Soccer equipment? Covered . Here, I’ll explore artisanal and textile items, since this is a lot of what you’ll encounter at street markets.

• artesanías — artisanal goods/crafts
• artesano / artesana — craftsman / craftswoman
• proyecto comunitario — community project Crafting artisanal goods is often a community endeavor, so you’ll want to ask about who’s behind the items you’re buying. Always support local endeavors when possible!
• cooperativa — cooperative This is a good term to hear in the artisanal market, as goods crafted, distributed and sold by a  cooperativa  are benefiting a community group. Community cooperatives are required to receive Fair Trade certification.
• Comercio Justo — Fair Trade
• orgánico — organic
• del monte / del bosque / de la montaña — from the hills / from the forest / from the mountains
• de la selva / jungla — from the jungle
• del mar / de la playa — from the sea / from the beach
• t odo natural — all natural 
• hecho a mano / hecha a mano — handmade
• casero / casera — homemade
• tallado / tallada — carved
• cosido / cosida — sewn
• tejido / tejida — knitted
• cerámica — ceramic
• porcelana — porcelain
• fibras — fibers
• diente   de tiburón / de tigre / de tigrillo — shark’s/tiger’s/large cat’s tooth
• uña / garra — claw
• concha — seashell
• semilla — seed
• tinte — dye

Before you even start discussing prices, pin down what it is you’re buying.

• ¿Qué material es? — What material is this?) or
• ¿Qué tipo de tela es? — What type of fabric is this?) Always double-check the tags—I once bought a 100% llama scarf with a big ol’ tag that plainly stated “30% llama.” Boo, such easily-preventable disappointment. You could even ask directly, ¿Qué porcentaje de lana de llama tiene?   (What percentage of llama wool is this?).
• tela — fabric
• algodón — cotton
• cuero — leather
• franela — flannel
• lana — wool
• licra — lycra
• terciopelo — velvet
• de alpaca — from alpaca
• de oveja — from sheep

Should you be super polite? I mean, that saleslady seems really, really nice. Asking for things can be a challenge for Spanish learners. With older people, you can always choose to err on the side of caution, use polite grammar ( third person ) and phrases. Check out the following polite phrases to use during interactions with vendors:

• Quisiera uno de esos, por favor. — I would like one of those, please.
• Muchas gracias, señor / señora. — Thank you very much, sir/ma’am.

You can also use doña  when speaking to elderly women, to show ever greater respect. In more casual encounters, you’re generally free to use less formal language. In fact, I’d encourage less formal language in the interest of sounding more local. Here are some typical informal phrases for shopping situations:

• ¿Me pasas eso, por favor? — Can you pass me that, please?
• Dame uno, por favor. — Give me one, please.

Now, here are some ways to explain to people what you like and dislike. This will help them figure out which items you do and don’t have an interest in.

• Quiero este / esta. — I want this [one]
• Quiero ese / esa. — I want that [one]
• Este / Esta no me gusta tanto. — I don’t like this one so much
• ¡Me encanta este / esta!   — I really like/love this one!
• Me gustan aquellos / aquellas de allá. — I like those over there.

You can’t always get what you want. Sometimes stores run out of what you’re looking for! Here’s what you might hear when you’re out of luck:

• Se acabó. — We ran out of that.
• Ya no tenemos. — We don’t have that anymore.

My perfectionist Ecuadorian fiancé has repeatedly taught me the most critical lesson in buying anything, anywhere. The goal is to find Los Tres B   (The Three B’s) : bueno, bonito y barato   (good, nice and cheap). Repeat that to yourself—let it become your new mantra when shopping in Spanish.

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Here are some words you’ll need to talk about the quality of an item:

• barato — cheap
• bonito — pretty, nice
• económico — affordable
• elegante — elegant
• hermoso — beautiful
• lujoso — luxurious

When you’re leaving it up to the shopkeeper to choose your items for you, you’ll want to make sure they know you’re paying attention:

• Deme los más bonitos / maduros / jugositos, por favor. — Give me the prettiest/ripest/juiciest ones please.

If you get a damaged or lower quality item (for example, one egg out of a dozen is broken), pass it to the shopkeeper and say:

• Cámbieme este, por favor. — Change this one for me, please.

Have you figured out the difference between a tamaño and a talla yet? They both mean size, but refer to different types of objects. This is a sneaky one. Basically,  talla  is for clothes and shoes while  tamaño  is for everything else.

• ¿Cuál es la talla de su camisa? — What’s your shirt size?
• ¿Qué talla de pantalón lleva usted? — What pants size do you wear?
• ¿Qué nú mero/talla de zapatos lleva usted? — What shoe size do you wear?

While we’re on the topic of sizes, be sure to translate your sizes into European sizes before you start shopping, or you’ll have to go through some trial and error to figure out what fits. You’ll probably end up trying on a bunch of stuff anyway, because clothes and shoes are cut a bit differently in different parts of the world. In Latin America, shoes are often smaller and narrower, and pants are often cut for shorter legs.

• talla pequeña / mediana / grande — small/medium/large size
• me queda bien — it fits me/it suits me well
• no me queda (bien) — it doesn’t fit me/it doesn’t suit me well
• me queda muy grande — it’s too big on me
• suelto / suelta — loose
• apretado / apretada — tight
• me aprieta aquí — it’s too tight here
• ¿Puedo probármelo? / ¿Puedo probármela? — Can I try it on?

• ¿Cuánto cuesta? / ¿Cuánto vale? / ¿A cuánto está?   — How much is this/that?
• ¿Cuál es el precio más bajo que me puede dar? — What’s the lowest price you can give me?

Making the actual purchase can often become a bit of a fiasco in small shops and markets. Unless the place is well-equipped for a high volume of shoppers or tourists, chances are good that absolutely nobody will have change.

Once you have agreed on a fair price and are ready to pay, you can ask the shopkeeper, ¿Me puede cambiar un billete de 20? (Can you give me change for a 20?) If you get a sigh or an exasperated head shake, then you know you’re about to go on a journey to acquire change.

The person making the sale usually assumes the responsibility of seeking out change from their friends and acquaintances nearby. They’ll be walking around asking ¿Tiene cambio? / ¿Tiene suelto? (Do you have any change?) or Présteme monedas   (Loan me some change!)

Regateo (bargaining) is part of culture in Latin America.  Even with their own countrymen, they’ll try to get the best possible price. You should never expect your money to leave your hand without a small debate first. This is normal and natural, and people don’t take offense when you try to low-ball them. It’s just part of the process of buying anything.

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*Warning: Don’t try bargaining at more formal establishments like supermarkets and department stores, only at smaller marketplaces and with individual salespeople.

You want to sound like a true local as you shop? Then whip out these phrases to show that you really know what you’re doing and that you mean business.

First off, there’s one thing that any good shopkeeper will gladly do for you: Give you a package deal for buying more things. So whether you’re with your friends or alone buying multiple items, make sure as many purchases as possible happen in the same place.

• ¿Me puede hacer un descuento si compro … ? — Can you give me a discount if I buy … ? In the blank space, insert all the items that you want to buy. Make it sound casual, like you suddenly decided to buy two more things to save money. Once you get the inevitable, sí, then you can name your price.
• Dame 3 por 20. — Give me three for $20. Let’s say you and your two friends each want to buy a lovely scarf from this particular cart. The man has already told you that each one costs $10. Outrageous! You can do better than that. Look at him confidently say this. Don’t frame this as a question. You’re still paying well—about $7 per scarf. He’ll probably agree to this price right away—he knows that somebody else might have tried for even lower.
• Pero allá cuesta $12. / La señora de allá me lo dejó en $12.   — Over there it costs $12./The lady over there would give it to me for $12. You want to buy a gorgeous, handcrafted necklace. Another vendor had a similar necklace for $14 over there. But this joker is asking almost twice the usual price—$22! Are you just going to take that? No, you’re going to handle this like a local. Let him know that you’re asking around and comparing prices. You know the prices. You might either get a string of comments saying how much better this necklace is compared to the other one. Or you might get another price that’s in the ballpark.

Let’s say after all this the seller decides to lower the price and says, Okay, te lo dejo en $15.   (Okay, I’ll give it to you for $15.)

Here are a few phrases you could try out now to get him down to the absolute lowest possible price:

• ¿Cuál es el precio final final ? — What’s your final  final price?
• Bah, ¡déjamelo en $12 y me lo llevo! — Leave me at $12 and I’ll take it now!
• ¿Cómo nos arreglamos? — How do we fix this? This one says: “I’m a nice guy who wants to find a solution together. We both know there are better prices for this out there, but I want to buy it from you.”
• ¡Ya para llevármelo ahorita! Para no volver… — Alright already, let me walk away with this now! So I don’t have to come back… This sounds more like, “C’mon, we both know we’re just playing the game here. Give me a good price and let’s be done with it.”
• ¿Cuánto es lo último para llevármelo ahorita? — What’s the lowest price if I buy it on the spot?
• Tome, tome — C’mon, take my money already.

A great way to learn these terms and more about bargaining and Spanish culture is by watching authentic Spanish videos. You can do this on YouTube or your favorite streaming program, or you can turn to a learning platform like FluentU .

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Whichever way you choose, immerse yourself in the language as natives use it and you’ll be able to pick up more words and phrases to use the next time you’re bargaining and shopping in Spanish.

Buying souvenirs and decorations is one thing. Now let’s say you’re at the produce market just trying to buy some delectable tropical fruits. You’ve seen prices elsewhere, and you’re hearing the locals pay cheaper. Or perhaps you’ve been living in this town for months now and are annoyed that people still can’t give you good prices for your daily items. Here are a few of my favorite go-to phrases for handling this situation:

• ¡Vivo aquí y gano un sueldo ecuatoriano! — I live here and earn an Ecuadorian salary! Of course, insert the country you’re bargaining in. When I was making a few hundred bucks a month (giving me about $100 for food monthly), I wasn’t ready to fork over an extra dollar for anything. If you feel that pain, you’ll come to love this phrase.
• Amigo, yo sé cómo son los precios. — Hey buddy, I know how the prices are.
• Pero la semana pasada usted me lo dejó en … — But last week you gave it to me for [price]. Sometimes prices of things in the markets fluctuate when there’s a poor crop or when the seasons change. By using this phrase, you’re saying that you know the price (even insinuating that this person gave you the right price once before) and you’re wondering what happened. You might get a real answer, or you might get the appropriately lowered price.

When shopping in Spanish, don’t forget to end every transaction with a Muchas gracias   ( thanks so much ) or a muy amable   (thanks/you’re very kind).

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Soon, you’ll be negotiating with the best of ’em!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

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