You are in a shop, you pick up something, and you want to ask the price. The thought is simple, but
the English freezes. You point, you smile, and you hope the shopkeeper guesses. Asking about money
feels risky because you do not want to sound rude or get the words wrong. Here is the truth: money
and shopping use a small, repeating set of phrases. The same words come up at every counter, every
sale, every bill. Learn that set once, and you can ask prices, bargain, and pay with calm,
confidence. This guide gives you those exact phrases with full example sentences.
Quick answer: To talk about money and shopping, use simple price and payment phrases. Ask
"How much is this?" or "What is the price?" To bargain, say "Can you give a discount?" To pay,
say "I will pay by card," or "Can I pay cash?" Keep it polite and short. The same few phrases
work in every shop, so practise them until they come out easily.
How do I ask the price politely?
You use one short question and add please to keep it warm. Asking about price is normal, so you
never have to feel awkward. The trick is to keep it simple and direct.
Common ways to ask:
- "How much is this?"
- "What is the price of this?"
- "How much does it cost?"
- "Is this on sale?"
- "Do you have a cheaper one?"
"Excuse me, how much is this bag?"
"What is the price of these shoes, please?"
Notice you do not need a long sentence. "How much is this?" with a smile does the whole job. If you
want to sound a touch softer, start with "Excuse me" or end with "please." That small politeness
goes a long way at any counter.
Say this, not that
❌ "How much this?" ✅ "How much is this?"
❌ "What is rate?" ✅ "What is the price?"
❌ "This how much cost?" ✅ "How much does this cost?"
Small fixes, but they make you clear the first time. The shopkeeper understands instantly, and you
avoid repeating yourself.
What words do I use for paying and getting change?
You use a small set of payment words at every counter. The actions are the same whether you buy tea
or a phone, so these phrases repeat constantly. Learn them and the payment moment stops being
stressful.
| Phrase | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| pay by card | "I will pay by card, please." |
| pay cash | "Can I pay cash?" |
| pay online | "Can I pay online or scan a code?" |
| keep the change | "Keep the change." |
| give change | "Can you give me change for this?" |
| the bill / total | "What is the total?" |
"I will pay by card. What is the total?"
"Here is the cash. Can you give me the change?"
These cover almost every payment you will ever make. You do not need banking words to shop. You need
pay, card, cash, change, total and you are fully equipped. Say them a few times so they feel
ready in your mouth.
Common mistakes
❌ "I will do payment by card." ✅ "I will pay by card."
❌ "Give my change." ✅ "Can you give me the change, please?"
❌ "How much total?" ✅ "What is the total?"
How do I bargain or ask for a discount?
You ask politely and stay friendly, because a smile gets better prices than a hard tone. Bargaining
is normal in many shops, and the words for it are simple. Keep it light and the conversation stays
pleasant.
Useful bargaining phrases:
- "Can you give a discount?"
- "Is this your best price?"
- "That is a bit too much for me."
- "Can you make it a little cheaper?"
- "Any offer on this one?"
"It is nice, but a bit too much for me. Can you give a little discount?"
"Is this your best price? I will take two."
The tone matters more than the words here. Say it with a smile, not a frown. If the answer is no, a
simple "No problem, thank you" keeps things friendly. You can always walk away politely. Nobody is
upset, and you have practised real English.
Say this, not that
❌ "Reduce the price." ✅ "Can you give a discount, please?"
❌ "Too costly, less it." ✅ "That is a bit expensive. Can you make it cheaper?"
❌ "Final price tell." ✅ "What is your best price?"
How do I describe what I am looking for?
You use simple words for size, colour, and type so the shopkeeper can help you fast. The clearer you
are, the quicker you find what you want. A short description beats pointing and hoping.
| You want to say | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Size | "Do you have this in a larger size?" |
| Colour | "Do you have it in blue?" |
| Type | "I am looking for a cotton shirt." |
| Just browsing | "I am just looking, thank you." |
| Trying it | "Can I try this on?" |
"I am looking for a black cotton shirt in medium size."
"I am just looking for now, thank you."
That last one is gold. "I am just looking, thank you" lets you browse in peace without pressure.
Use it freely. And when you do want help, a clear "I am looking for..." gets you to the right shelf
in seconds.
Say it out loud (2-minute practice)
Reading these phrases will not help at the counter. Saying them will, so practise now.
- Ask the price three ways out loud: "How much is this? What is the price? How much does it cost?"
- Say a full payment line: "I will pay by card. What is the total?"
- Practise one polite bargain: "It is nice, but a bit too much. Can you give a discount?"
- Describe something you want: "I am looking for a blue cotton shirt in medium."
- Role-play a whole purchase in one go, from asking the price to paying.
Do this for a few days and your next shop visit will feel easy. For guided practice with real
shopping conversations, the FirstWords English course
takes you through scenes just like this.
A quick word on fear. You might worry the shopkeeper will judge your English or laugh. They will not.
They hear all kinds of English all day and only want to make a sale. A small mistake never stops a
purchase. Speak up, point if you must, and finish the deal. Communication beats perfect grammar
every single time.
Mini-FAQ
Is it rude to bargain in English?
No, if you stay polite. Use "Can you give a discount, please?" with a smile and it stays friendly.
What if I do not catch the price they say?
Just ask: "Sorry, how much again?" or "Can you say that once more, please?" It is totally normal.
Which payment words do I really need?
Pay, card, cash, change, total. These five cover almost every counter you will visit.
How do I browse without pressure?
Say "I am just looking, thank you." It politely tells them you do not need help right now.
Your next step
Before you close this page, say one price question and one payment line out loud. That small rehearsal
makes your next shop visit smoother. When you want a steady path from these phrases to confident,
everyday speaking, the FirstWords English program is
built for learners just like you.
Keep growing your everyday speaking vocabulary here: