Shopping in Germany is a wonderful experience. Places like Berlin are filled with boutiques, cafés and local food shops. This makes a change from the supermarket factories of America and the UK.
Use the word lists below to build up your vocabulary and make your shopping experience that much more enjoyable.
German shops
Here's a list of German shops for you to learn. Try to memorise three shops every day
| English | German Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Antiques | Antiquitäten |
| Second-hand shop | An- und Verkauf |
| Pharmacy | Apotheke |
| Baker | Bäckerei |
| Fashion/Outfitter | Bekleidung |
| Undertaker | Bestattungen |
| Florist | Blumen |
| Books | Buchhandlung |
| Chemist | Drogerie |
| Hypermarket | Einkaufszentrum |
| Delicatessen | Feinkost |
| Photographer | Fotogeschäft |
| Hairdresser | Friseur |
| Shop for... | Geschäft für... |
| Gift shop | Geschenkartikel |
| Dealer in | Händler für... |
| Hardware shop | Haushaltswaren |
| Milliner | Hutgeschäft |
| Patisserie | Konditorei |
| Beauty parlour | Kosmetiksalon |
| Grocer | Lebensmittel |
| Leather goods | Lederwaren |
| Butcher | Metzgerei |
| Dairy | Milchgeschäft |
| Fashion shop | Modegeschäft |
| Greengrocer | Obst und Gemüse |
| Stationer | Papierwaren |
| Parfumery | Parfümerie |
| Health food | Reformhaus |
| Dry cleaner | Reinigung |
| Travel agent | Reisebüro |
| Jeweller | Schmuckwaren |
| Tailor | Schneider |
| Shoe shop | Schuhe |
| Shoe repairs | Schuhmacher |
| Toys | Spielwaren |
| Off-licence | Spirituosen |
| Sports shop | Sportartikel |
| Supermarket | Supermarkt |
| Confectioner | Süßwaren |
| Tobacconist | Tabakwaren |
| Watchmaker | Uhrengeschäft |
| Laundry | Wäscherei |
| Launderette | Waschsalon |
| Wine merchant | Weinhandlung |
| Magazines/Newsagent | Zeitschriften |
German products
Here's an extensive list of German product to buy on your shopping trip. Look at the similarities between the German and English languages.
| English | German Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| aspirin | Aspirin as-pi-reen |
| baby food | Babynahrung baby-nar-roong |
| beer | Bier beer |
| book | Buch booxh |
| bread | Brot broet |
| bric-a-brac | Trödel trer-del |
| butane gas | Butangas boo-tarn-gas |
| butter | Butter boo-ter |
| cheese | Käse kay-zer |
| chocolates | Schokolade sho-ko-lar-der |
| cigarettes | Zigaretten tsi-gar-rett-en |
| condoms | Kondome kon-do-mer |
| eggs | Eier iy-er |
| envelopes | Umschläge oom-shlay-ger |
| film | Film film |
| flowers | Blumen bloo-men |
| fruit | Obst oebst |
| groceries | Lebensmittel lay-benz-mitt-el |
| guide book | Reiseführer riy-zer-fuer-er |
| haircut | Haarschnitt har-shnitt |
| health foods | Reformkost re-form-kost |
| household articles | Haushaltsartikel howss-halts-ar-ti-kel |
| jewellery | Schmuck shmook |
| laundry | Wäsche vesh-er |
| leather goods | Lederwaren lay-der-var-en |
| map | Karte kar-ter |
| magazines | Zeitschriften tziyt-shrif-ten |
| make-up | Make-up make-up |
| meat | Fleisch fliysh |
| medicaments | Medikamente me-di-ka-men-ter |
| milk | Milch milsh |
| mineral water | Mineralwasser mi-ne-rarl-vass-er |
| newspaper | Zeitung Zeitung |
| plasters | Hansaplast, Pflaster han-za-plast, pflast-er |
| postcards | Ansichtskarten an-zixhts-kar-ten |
| presents | Geschenke ge-shenk-er |
| razor blades | Rasierklingen ra-zeer-kling-en |
| salami | Salami sa-lar-mee |
| sausage | Wurst voorst |
| shampoo | Shampoo sham-poo |
| stamps | Briefmarken breef-mar-ken |
| stationery | Schreibwaren shriyb-var-en |
| tampons | Tampons tam-ponss |
| toothbrush | Zahnbürste tsarn-buer-ste |
| town plan | Stadtplan shtat-plarn |
| vegetables | Gemüse ge-mue-zer |
| watch | Uhr oor |
| wine | Wein viyn |
Phrases to use when buying
These phrases are what you need when buying products from a German store.
| English | German Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| I'll take (two) of those. | Ich nehme (zwei) hiervon. ixh nay-mer (tsviy) heer-fon |
| How much is that? | Was kostet das? vass kost-et dass |
| It's too expensive. | Das ist zu teuer. dass ist tsoo toy-er |
| Do you take credit cards? | Nehmen Sie Kreditkarten? nay-men zee kre-dit-kar-ten |
| May I have a receipt? | Kann ich eine Quittung haben? kan ixh iy-ner kvitt-oong har-ben |
| A packet of..., please. | Ein Paket..., bitte. |
| A bottle of... | Eine Flasche... iy-ner fla-sher... |
| A can of... | Eine Dose... iy-ner doe-zer |
| I'm looking for a... | Ich möchte... ixh merxh-ter... |
| Do you have...? | Haben Sie...? har-ben zee... |