English is a very important language in our daily life. It helps you communicate clearly, handle simple tasks, and feel more confident in public places. Many people, however, feel nervous while speaking English, especially in real situations like shopping. People enroll themselves into spoken English course, but one of the best ways to improve is by practicing through real-life conversations.
If you’re going grocery shopping, asking for help in a store, or talking to the staff, this conversation will help you improve your spoken English. Each sentence is followed by its Hindi translation to make learning simple and more natural.
Commonly Used Words While Shopping
Learning new words helps improve your vocabulary by expanding the number of ways you can express yourself. Practicing these words related to shopping through speaking and writing helps you remember them and use them naturally in real-life conversations.
- Bargain
English Meaning: A good deal or something bought for a lower price
Hindi Meaning: बहुत सस्ते में चीज़ मिल जाना
Example: This jacket was a real bargain, only ₹500!
- Exchange
English Meaning: To return a product and take another instead
Hindi Meaning: पहले ख़रीदा हुआ सामान वापस करके दूसरी चीज़ लेना
Example: I exchanged the shirt for a larger size.
- Warranty
English Meaning: A guarantee from the seller about product repair or replacement
Hindi Meaning: अगर चीज़ खराब हुई, तो company ठीक करेगी या नई दे देगी
Example: This phone comes with a 1-year warranty.
- Receipt
English Meaning: A written statement showing the purchase and amount paid
Hindi Meaning: रसीद
Example: Please keep the receipt for returns.
- Out of stock
English Meaning: When an item is not available in the store
Hindi Meaning: सामान उपलब्ध ना होना
Example: Sorry, that perfume is currently out of stock.
5 Common Phrases While Shopping
Phrases are an important part of English speaking because they make your conversations sound natural and fluent. They help you express ideas more clearly and smoothly. Even during daily activities like when you shop for grocery items, using the right phrases can make your communication more effective. Below are some shopping related phrases in English with meaning which can help us understand how to use them effectively in real-life situations.
How much does this cost?
English Meaning: Asking for the price
Hindi Meaning: कितने का है?
Example: How much does this cost? I didn’t see a tag.
Can I try this on?
English Meaning: Asking permission to wear before buying
Hindi Meaning: क्या मैं इसे try कर सकती/सकता हूँ?
Example: Can I try this on before I decide?
I’m just looking.
English Meaning: Not planning to buy yet
Hindi Meaning: अभी तो बस देख रहा/रही हूँ
Example: Thanks, I’m just looking right now.
Is this on sale?
English Meaning: Asking if the item has a discount
Hindi Meaning: क्या इस पर discount है?
Example: This looks expensive. Is this on sale if I may ask?
I’ll take it.
English Meaning: Agreeing to buy
Hindi Meaning: मैं इसे ले लूंगी/लूंगा
Example: This fits perfectly. I’ll take it right now.
5 Idioms Related to Shopping and Purchases
Idioms are a fun and expressive part of English that add color and personality to your speech. Even when you shop for groceries, using idioms in small conversations can make your English sound more natural and confident. Here are some shopping related idioms in English with meaning which can help us understand how to use them effectively in real-life situations.
Give the hard sell
English Meaning: To pressure someone strongly to buy something or agree to something.
Hindi Meaning: किसी को ज़बरदस्ती या बार-बार मनाकर कुछ बेचने की कोशिश करना।
Example: The salesman gave me the hard sell, but I still didn’t buy the product.
Costs an arm and a leg
English Meaning: Extremely expensive
Hindi Meaning: बहुत महँगा होना
Example: That designer bag costs me an arm and a leg.
Buy a pig in a poke
English Meaning: To buy something without checking it properly; to make a blind purchase or decision.
Hindi Meaning: आँख बंद करके चीज़ खरीद लेना
Example: I bought the phone without checking, It was a pig in a poke.
In the market for something
English Meaning: Looking to buy a specific item
Hindi Meaning: किसी खास चीज़ को खरीदने की सोच में होना
Example: I’m in the market for a new laptop.
Buy something for a song
English Meaning: To buy something very cheaply
Hindi Meaning: सस्ती चीज़ खरीदना
Example: I bought this antique clock for a song at the flea market.
Conversation Between a Customer and Grocery Store Staff
When you read conversations or engage in one, you get to see the practical use of figures of speech like phrases, idioms, and commonly used expressions. So let us go through a conversation between a customer and a grocery store staff, and see how even a simple grocery shopping list can help you practice useful English!
Customer: Excuse me, can you help me find olive oil?
माफ कीजिए, क्या आप मुझे olive oil ढूंढने में मदद कर सकते हैं?
Staff: Sure, sir. It’s in Aisle 4, right next to the spices.
ज़रूर सर, यह section 4 में है, मसालों के बगल में।
Customer:
This bottle has no expiry date mentioned. Can you please give it a check?
इस बोतल पर expiry date नहीं लिखी है। क्या आप देख सकते हैं?
Staff: You’re right. I’ll bring you another bottle with the date clearly printed.
बिलकुल ठीक कहा आपने। मैं ऐसी बोतल लाता हूँ जिसमें तारीख साफ़ दिखे।
Customer: I bought oranges yesterday from here and they were half-rotten inside. That was disappointing!
मैंने कल यहाँ से संतरे खरीदे थे और अंदर से आधे सड़े हुए निकले। बहुत निराशा हुई!
Staff: I’m very sorry to hear that. Would you like to speak to our store manager?
इसके लिए मुझे खेद है। क्या आप हमारे store manager से बात करना चाहेंगे?
Customer: No, just make sure your fruits are checked before displaying.
नहीं, आगे से फल रखने से पहले चेक कर लिया कीजिए।
Staff: Ofcourse. Thank you for your feedback, it helps us improve.
बिलकुल, सर। आपके feedback के लिए धन्यवाद, इससे हमें सुधार करने में मदद मिलती है।
Customer: Do you have any offers running on snacks or beverages?
क्या snacks या drinks पर कोई offer चल रहा है?
Staff: Yes! Buy one, get one free on chips and soft drinks today.
जी हाँ! आज कुछ chips और soft drinks पर एक के साथ एक free है।
Customer: Nice! Can you add them to my cart?
बढ़िया! क्या आप इन्हें मेरी टोकरी में डाल सकते हैं?
Staff: Sure, sir. Anything else you need help with?
ज़रूर sir। क्या आपको किसी और चीज़ में मदद चाहिए?
Customer: No, that’s all. The service has improved. Thanks for your help!
नहीं, बस इतना ही। आपकी सेवा अब बेहतर हो गई है। मदद के लिए धन्यवाद!
Staff: Always a pleasure, sir. You can proceed to Billing Counter 2.
हमेशा खुशी होती है, सर। आप billing counter 2 पर जा सकते हैं।
Customer: Please bill these items separately. This one’s for the office.
कृपया इन सामानों का bill अलग बनाइए। यह office के लिए है।
Cashier: Certainly, sir. Would you like a carry bag?
ज़रूर सर। क्या आपको carry bag चाहिए?
Customer: Yes, and also please send a feedback link to my phone.
हाँ, और कृपया feedback link मेरे phone पर भेज दीजिए।
Staff: Done, sir. Have a great day and visit again!
हो गया, sir। आपका दिन शुभ हो और फिर आइएगा!
Polite Ways a Customer Can Ask for Help in a Grocery Store
There’s an unsaid rule when asking for help from grocery store staff. Always be polite and respectful. A kind tone goes a long way and makes it easier for the staff to assist you. Following are some ways in which a customer can ask for help from a grocery store staff politely:
Excuse me, could you please help me find the rice section?
माफ़ कीजिए, क्या आप कृपया मुझे चावल वाला section दिखा सकते हैं?
Can you tell me where the dairy products are kept?
क्या आप बता सकते हैं कि dairy products कहाँ रखे हैं?
I need some assistance with selecting fresh vegetables. Can you help?
मुझे ताज़ी सब्जियाँ चुनने में मदद चाहिए। क्या आप मदद कर सकते हैं?
Sorry to bother you, but can you guide me to the billing counter?
आपको परेशान करने के लिए माफ़ी चाहता/चाहती हूँ, लेकिन क्या आप मुझे बिलिंग काउंटर तक पहुँचा सकते हैं?
Could you please let me know if this item is in stock?
क्या आप कृपया मुझे बता सकते हैं कि यह वस्तु stock में है या नहीं?
Polite Responses from Grocery Store Staff to improve Customer Experience
Polite responses from grocery store staff help create a friendly and professional shopping experience. Small gestures, like helping with a grocery shopping bag, can leave a positive impression. Let’s look at some polite ways for staff to respond to customer queries.
Sure, I’d be happy to help you with that.
ज़रूर, मैं इसमें आपकी मदद करके खुशी महसूस करूंगा/करूंगी।
That item is in Aisle 5, near the snacks section.
वह सामान section 5 में है, snacks वाले हिस्से के पास।
I’m sorry, it’s currently out of stock. Would you like me to check the next availability?
माफ़ कीजिए, यह अभी स्टॉक में नहीं है। क्या आप चाहें तो मैं अगली उपलब्धता चेक कर दूं?
Let me check with my supervisor and get back to you in a minute.
मैं अपने supervisor से बात करके एक मिनट में बताता/बताती हूँ।
Thank you for bringing this to our notice. We’ll take care of it immediately.
हमें बताने के लिए धन्यवाद। हम इसे तुरंत ठीक करेंगे।
How can staff professionally and graciously thank customers for their feedback?
Staff can professionally and graciously thank customers for their feedback by acknowledging their effort and showing genuine appreciation. Positive or critical, every response related to the shopping for grocery service should be handled politely. Let us look at a few.
Thank you for your kind words. We’re glad you had a good experience!
आपकी सराहना के लिए धन्यवाद। हमें खुशी है कि आपका अनुभव अच्छा रहा!
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that and will work on improving.
आपके feedback के लिए धन्यवाद। हमें खेद है कि आपको असुविधा हुई, हम इसमें सुधार करेंगे।
We appreciate you pointing this out. We’ll look into it and take corrective steps.
आपने यह बात बताई, इसके लिए धन्यवाद। हम इसकी जांच करेंगे और सुधार लाएंगे।
We understand your concern and truly value your honesty. Your feedback will help us improve.
हम आपकी चिंता को समझते हैं और आपकी ईमानदारी की सराहना करते हैं। आपका feedback हमें बेहतर बनने में मदद करेगा।
We’re very sorry for your experience. Thank you for sharing it with us . We will make sure it doesn’t happen again.
आपके अनुभव के लिए हमें खेद है। इसे हमारे साथ साझा करने के लिए धन्यवाद. हम सुनिश्चित करेंगे कि यह दोबारा न हो।
Conclusion
Learning English doesn’t have to be difficult or boring. When you practice simple, everyday conversations like those that happen during grocery shopping, you can improve your speaking, listening, and confidence in real-life situations. You might be shopping at a store or doing grocery shopping online, either way, these conversations teach you how to ask questions politely, use common phrases, and understand replies naturally.
When you speak English while asking for items, reading labels, or talking to store staff, you slowly start thinking in English too, which is a big step toward fluency. Small interactions like “Where can I find this?” or “How much does this cost?” make a big difference in your learning journey.
