B1 Vocabulary: Shopping & Money


Key Vocabulary

English Word/PhrasePart of SpeechSpanish TranslationMeaningExample Sentence
shopnoun/verbtienda / comprarplace to buy / to buyI go to the shop every Saturday.
supermarketnounsupermercadolarge food shopWe do the weekly shopping at the supermarket.
department storenoungrandes almacenesbig shop with many sectionsThe department store has clothes and furniture.
marketnounmercadoopen-air stallsFresh fruit is cheap at the market.
pharmacy / chemist’snounfarmaciashop for medicinesI buy paracetamol at the pharmacy.
clothes shopnountienda de ropashop for clothesThis clothes shop has a sale.
buyverbcomprarpay for somethingI buy a coffee every morning.
sellverbvendergive for moneyThey sell handmade jewellery.
pricenounpreciocostThe price is €15.
costverb/nouncostar / costehow much you payHow much does it cost?
cheapadjbarato/alow priceThese shoes are cheap.
expensiveadjcaro/ahigh priceDesigner bags are expensive.
salenounrebajas / ofertareduced pricesI bought it in the summer sale.
bargainnoungangavery good priceThis jacket was a real bargain!
payverbpagargive moneyYou can pay by card.
cashnounefectivopaper/coinsI only have cash.
credit cardnountarjeta de créditoplastic paymentShe pays with her credit card.
receiptnounrecibo / ticketproof of paymentKeep the receipt.
sizenountallaclothing measurementWhat size are you? Medium.
small / medium / largeadjpequeño / mediano / grandesizesI need a large T-shirt.
materialnounmaterial / telawhat something is made ofThis shirt is made of cotton.
cottonnounalgodónsoft fabricI prefer cotton clothes.
woolnounlanafrom sheepThis jumper is 100% wool.
leathernouncuerofrom animal skinThese shoes are leather.
budgetnounpresupuestomoney planI have a monthly budget.

Common Collocations & Expressions (Spanish in brackets)

  • do the shopping (hacer la compra)
  • go shopping (ir de compras)
  • window shopping (mirar escaparates)
  • be worth it (merecer la pena)
  • save money (ahorrar dinero)
  • spend money on (gastar dinero en)

Word Formation (with Spanish)

BaseNoun (Esp)Adjective (Esp)Adverb (Esp)
expenseexpense (gasto)expensive (caro/a)expensively (caramente)
paypayment (pago)payable (pagadero/a)
affordaffordable (asequible)affordably (de forma asequible)

Exercise: Gap-Fill & Multiple ChoicePart A – Gap-FillComplete the sentences with a word/phrase from the table.

  1. These jeans are made of _______________ – they’re very soft.
  2. I always pay with my _______________ card in shops.
  3. The _______________ is too high – I can’t buy it.
  4. She got a new dress in the _______________ – it was 50% off!
  5. What _______________ shoes do you wear? 38 or 39?

Part B – Multiple ChoiceChoose the correct word (A, B, or C).

  1. This bag was only €10 – what a _______________!
    A) sale B) bargain C) budget
  2. You can _______________ cash or card at the till.
    A) pay B) sell C) cost
  3. The _______________ sells bread, fruit, and vegetables.
    A) pharmacy B) market C) department store
  4. Wool is warm, but _______________ is cooler in summer.
    A) leather B) cotton C) receipt
  5. I need to _______________ money for a new phone.
    A) spend B) save C) buy

Answer KeyPart A – Gap-Fill

  1. cotton (algodón)
  2. credit (crédito)
  3. price / cost (precio / coste)
  4. sale (rebajas)
  5. size (talla)

Part B – Multiple Choice

  1. B) bargain (ganga)
  2. A) pay (pagar)
  3. B) market (mercado)
  4. B) cotton (algodón)
  5. B) save (ahorrar)