Shopping & Clothing in German
Introduction
Navigating stores and discussing purchases in German can greatly enhance your shopping experience in German-speaking countries. This guide provides essential vocabulary and phrases to help you communicate effectively.
Vocabulary
General Shopping Terms
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Store | Geschäft |
| Shop | Laden |
| Mall | Einkaufszentrum |
| Market | Markt |
| Shopping | Einkaufen |
| Customer | Kunde/Kundin |
| Cashier | Kassierer/Kassiererin |
| Sale | Ausverkauf |
| Discount | Rabatt |
| Price | Preis |
| Receipt | Quittung |
| Credit Card | Kreditkarte |
| Cash | Bargeld |
| Exchange | Umtausch |
| Refund | Rückerstattung |
Clothing Items
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Clothing | Kleidung |
| Shirt | Hemd |
| T-shirt | T-Shirt |
| Pants | Hose |
| Jeans | Jeans |
| Dress | Kleid |
| Skirt | Rock |
| Jacket | Jacke |
| Coat | Mantel |
| Shoes | Schuhe |
| Sneakers | Turnschuhe |
| Boots | Stiefel |
| Hat | Hut |
| Cap | Mütze |
| Sweater | Pullover |
| Blouse | Bluse |
| Suit | Anzug |
| Tie | Krawatte |
| Belt | Gürtel |
| Socks | Socken |
| Gloves | Handschuhe |
Clothing Accessories
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Bag | Tasche |
| Backpack | Rucksack |
| Wallet | Geldbörse |
| Watch | Uhr |
| Necklace | Halskette |
| Bracelet | Armband |
| Ring | Ring |
| Earrings | Ohrringe |
| Scarf | Schal |
| Sunglasses | Sonnenbrille |
Clothing Descriptions
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Size | Größe |
| Small | Klein |
| Medium | Mittel |
| Large | Groß |
| Color | Farbe |
| Red | Rot |
| Blue | Blau |
| Green | Grün |
| Black | Schwarz |
| White | Weiß |
| Yellow | Gelb |
| Brown | Braun |
| Pink | Rosa |
| Orange | Orange |
| Purple | Lila |
| Gray | Grau |
| Pattern | Muster |
| Striped | Gestreift |
| Checked | Kariert |
| Dotted | Gepunktet |
| Floral | Geblümt |
| Material | Material |
| Cotton | Baumwolle |
| Wool | Wolle |
| Leather | Leder |
| Silk | Seide |
| Denim | Jeansstoff |
| Synthetic | Synthetik |
Useful Phrases
Asking for Help
- Do you need help?
- Brauchen Sie Hilfe?
- Can I help you?
- Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Inquiring About Products
- I am looking for a shirt.
- Ich suche ein Hemd.
- Where can I find shoes?
- Wo finde ich Schuhe?
- Do you have this in another size?
- Haben Sie das in einer anderen Größe?
- Do you have this in another color?
- Haben Sie das in einer anderen Farbe?
- Is there a discount on this item?
- Gibt es einen Rabatt auf diesen Artikel?
Discussing Prices
- How much does this cost?
- Wie viel kostet das?
- Is this on sale?
- Ist das im Angebot?
- Can I pay with a credit card?
- Kann ich mit Kreditkarte bezahlen?
Making a Purchase
- I will take it.
- Ich nehme es.
- I would like to buy this.
- Ich möchte das kaufen.
- Do you have a bag?
- Haben Sie eine Tüte?
Returns and Exchanges
- Can I return this?
- Kann ich das zurückgeben?
- I would like to exchange this.
- Ich möchte das umtauschen.
- It doesn’t fit.
- Es passt nicht.
- It’s too small.
- Es ist zu klein.
- It’s too big.
- Es ist zu groß.
Key Grammar Point
Using Adjectives with Clothing
In German, adjectives change based on the gender, case, and number of the noun they describe. Here’s how it works with clothing:
- Nominative Case (Subject)
- Accusative Case (Direct Object)
- Dative Case (Indirect Object)
Gender of Clothing Nouns
- Masculine: der Anzug (the suit)
- Feminine: die Jacke (the jacket)
- Neuter: das Hemd (the shirt)
Sample Dialogue
In a Clothing Store
Customer: Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen?
(Excuse me, can you help me?)
Salesperson: Ja, natürlich. Was suchen Sie?
(Yes, of course. What are you looking for?)
Customer: Ich suche eine Jacke in Größe M.
(I’m looking for a jacket in size M.)
Salesperson: Hier sind einige Jacken. Möchten Sie sie anprobieren?
(Here are some jackets. Would you like to try them on?)
Customer: Ja, gerne.
(Yes, please.)
Customer: Wie viel kostet diese Jacke?
(How much does this jacket cost?)
Salesperson: Diese Jacke kostet 75 Euro.
(This jacket costs 75 euros.)
Customer: Kann ich mit Kreditkarte bezahlen?
(Can I pay with a credit card?)
Salesperson: Ja, natürlich.
(Yes, of course.)
Conclusion
By using these essential phrases and vocabulary, you'll be well-equipped to navigate shopping experiences in German-speaking regions. Whether you're buying clothes, asking for assistance, or discussing prices, this guide will help you communicate with confidence.