Essential German Vocabulary – Shopping
With Germany being such a decentralized country, you will find ample shopping opportunities in many German cities, not just Berlin. In fact, while the capital offers you a vast selection of shops (including famous department store KaDeWe), you will discover large shopping malls in cities like Düsseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt.
In addition, you will find some US-style shopping malls and outlet stores outside of the big cities, as well as all kinds of vintage and localized shops in smaller towns. Wertheim Village is an example of a large outlet mall in southern Germany, while the Kö (Königsallee) in Düsseldorf is your best bet for top-notch designer clothing. Markets, on the other hand, are mostly for grocery shopping, although you can always find a bargain on one of the ever-popular car trunk sales called "Flohmarkt" (flea-markets).
The following phrases will help you navigate your way through Germany's shops. Note that the term "shopping" is also commonly used, but mostly in relation to shopping for clothes and lifestyle items rather than grocery shopping. It is also advisable to have some cash on you, as surprisingly
many German stores don't take credit cards, only "EC" cards (German bank cards). Foreign bank cards mostly don't work; however, if your card has a Maestro or Giropay sign on the back, you might be lucky.
|
Phrase in German |
Phrase in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Einkaufen / Shopping |
Shopping |
Ine-kow-fen |
|
Rabatt |
Discount |
Rah-butt |
|
Saldo/Ribasso |
Sale |
Sahl-doh / Ree-bahs-soh |
|
Kleider/Kleidung |
Clothes |
Clai-der / Clai-doong |
|
Schuhe |
Shoes |
Shoo-her |
|
Teuer |
Expensive |
Toy-er |
|
Billig/Günstig |
Cheap |
Bill-ig / Goons-tig |
|
… Abteilung |
… Department |
Ub-tai-loont |
|
Lebensmittel |
Groceries |
Lay-bens-mit-tel |
|
Einkaufswagen |
Shopping cart |
Ain-kows-vah-gen |
|
Geschenk |
Present |
Ge-shank |
|
Wieviel / Was kostet… |
How much is... |
Vee-veel / Vuss cost-ed |
|
Damenabteilung |
Women's section |
Dah-men-ub-tai-loong |
|
Herrenabteilung |
Men's section |
Hair-ren-ub-tai-loong |
|
Herrenanzüge |
Men's suits |
Hair-ren-an-zoo-ger |
|
Make-up |
Makeup |
Make-up |
|
Portemonnaie / Geldbörse |
Wallet |
Pohr-ter-mon-nay / Gelt-bor-ser |
|
Können Sie mir bitte helfen? |
Could you help me please? (Formal / Informal) |
Kon-nen zee meer bitt-er hel-fain? |
|
Wo finde ich… |
Where can I find… |
Voe fin-der ich |
|
Mir gefällt/gefallen… |
I like… (singular/plural) |
Meer ge-faellt / ge-fal-len… |
|
Mir gefällt/gefallen nicht… |
I don't like… (singular/plural) |
Meer ge-faellt / ge-fal-len nicht… |
|
Wann macht es auf? / Wann wird geöffnet? |
What time does it open? |
Vunn macht es owf? / Vunn veerd ge-off-net? |
|
Danke. |
Thank you. |
Dan-ker |
|
Guten Tag! |
Good day! |
Goo-ten tahg |
|
Auf Wiedersehen! |
Good bye! |
Owf Vie-der-say-hen |
|
Haben Sie… |
Do you have… |
Hah-ben zee |
|
Klein |
Small |
Kline |
|
Mittel |
Medium |
Mit-tel |
|
Groß |
Large |
Groh-ss |
|
Größe |
Size |
Groe-sser |
|
Die Kasse |
The checkout (counter) |
Dee Kas-ser |
Slang/Commonly Used Expressions
|
Expression in German |
Expression in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Ich sehe/schaue mich nur um. |
I'm only browsing. |
Ich say-e / show-er mich noor oom |
|
Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen? |
Can I pay by card? |
Kunn ich meet car-ter be-tsah-len? |
|
Nehmen Sie Visa/Mastercard/American Express/Kreditkarten? |
Do you take Visa/Mastercard/American Express/credit cards? |
Nay-men zee Visa/Mastercard/American Express/cray-deet-car-ten? |
|
Es passt mir nicht. |
It doesn't fit. |
Es pusst meer nicht |
|
Ich nehme es nicht. |
I'm not taking it. |
Ich nay-mer es nicht |
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