In short
- Going shopping: to go shopping (general) or to go grocery shopping (food).
- UK vs US: trolley (UK) / cart (US) for the shopping cart, till (UK) / register (US) for the checkout.
- Quantities: a kilo of, a bottle of, a slice of, a can of + noun.
- Useful signs: BOGO (buy one, get one), sell-by date, on sale, organic.
- Key phrase: “Could you tell me where the [aisle] is?” to ask for directions in the aisles.
- Small shops: bakery, butcher’s, deli and fishmonger’s each have their own vocabulary.
An English-speaking supermarket has its own vocabulary: aisles, units of measurement, promotional signs, and typical phrases for finding your way around or paying. This guide brings together the essential vocabulary for grocery shopping in English, from the cart to the checkout, with the most common British and American variations.
Going shopping: basic vocabulary
| English | French |
|---|---|
| to go shopping | faire les courses (en général) |
| to go grocery shopping | faire les courses alimentaires |
| grocery list / shopping list | liste de courses |
| grocery store / supermarket | magasin d’alimentation / supermarché |
| to buy | acheter |
| to pay | payer |
| to queue (UK) / to stand in line (US) | faire la queue |
| receipt | ticket de caisse |
| refund | remboursement |
| discount / sale | réduction / solde |
Differences between British and American English
Supermarket vocabulary varies depending on the English-speaking country. These differences mainly concern everyday items in the store.
| Item | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Chariot | trolley | cart |
| Caisse | till | register / checkout |
| Facture | bill | check |
| Petits commerces alimentaires | grocer’s | grocery store |
Finding your way around the aisles
Each supermarket aisle has a specific name in English, useful for asking for directions or reading the in-store signage.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| produce section | rayon fruits et légumes |
| dairy section | rayon produits laitiers |
| frozen food section | rayon surgelés |
| bakery | boulangerie |
| deli / delicatessen | rayon traiteur, charcuterie |
| meat section | rayon boucherie |
| seafood section | rayon poissonnerie |
| pantry items / dry goods | épicerie sèche (conserves, pâtes, épices) |
| household items | produits d’entretien |
| toiletries | produits d’hygiène |
| aisle | allée, rayon |
| checkout | caisse |
Fruits and vegetables
| English | French |
|---|---|
| apples, bananas, oranges, grapes | pommes, bananes, oranges, raisin |
| strawberries, raspberries, cherries | fraises, framboises, cerises |
| lemons, peaches, pears, grapefruit | citrons, pêches, poires, pamplemousses |
| carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes | carottes, oignons, ail, pommes de terre |
| tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers | tomates, concombres, poivrons |
| lettuce, spinach, mushrooms | laitue, épinards, champignons |
| green beans, peas, zucchini | haricots verts, petits pois, courgettes |
Dairy products, meats and groceries
| English | French |
|---|---|
| milk, butter, cheese, yogurt | lait, beurre, fromage, yaourt |
| eggs, a dozen eggs | œufs, une douzaine d’œufs |
| beef, pork, chicken, turkey | bœuf, porc, poulet, dinde |
| salmon, tuna, shrimp | saumon, thon, crevettes |
| bread, rolls, baguette | pain, petits pains, baguette |
| rice, pasta, cereal | riz, pâtes, céréales |
| salt, pepper, spices, oil | sel, poivre, épices, huile |
| canned goods | conserves |
Specialty shops
Outside the supermarket, each food shop has its own name in English, with its associated vocabulary.
| Shop | English | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| Boulangerie | bakery | bread, baguette, rolls, croissants |
| Pâtisserie | pastry shop | cakes, tarts, pastries |
| Boucherie | butcher’s / butcher shop | beef, pork, veal, chicken, duck, turkey |
| Charcuterie | delicatessen / deli | ham, sausages, pâté, cold cuts |
| Poissonnerie | fish market / fishmonger’s | salmon, sole, tuna, shrimp |
| Épicerie | grocery store | dry goods, canned food, spices |
To describe what you buy there, English often uses the phrase at the [shopkeeper]’s, you buy… : At the butcher’s, you buy meat. (Chez le boucher, on achète de la viande.)
Drinks
| English | French |
|---|---|
| coffee, tea, water, sparkling water | café, thé, eau, eau gazeuse |
| fruit juice, soda | jus de fruit, soda |
| alcoholic beverages | boissons alcoolisées |
| beer, wine, champagne | bière, vin, champagne |
| red wine, white wine, rosé | vin rouge, vin blanc, rosé |
Non-food supermarket vocabulary
An English-speaking supermarket also sells non-food items, grouped in specific aisles.
| Aisle | English | Example products |
|---|---|---|
| Produits d’hygiène | toiletries | soap, shampoo, toothpaste |
| Produits d’entretien | household items / cleaning products | paper towels, detergent, sponges |
| Vêtements | clothing section | socks, t-shirts, hats |
| Papeterie | stationery | pens, notebooks, envelopes |
Describing a price or a product
Certain adjectives are often used to comment on a price or judge the quality of an item while shopping.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| expensive | cher |
| cheap / affordable | pas cher / abordable |
| a good deal / a bargain | une bonne affaire |
| worth it | ça vaut le coup |
| overpriced | trop cher pour ce que c’est |
| fresh | frais |
| local | local, du coin |
| homemade | fait maison |
- This cheese is a bit expensive, but it’s worth it. → Ce fromage est un peu cher, mais ça vaut le coup.
- These tomatoes are local and fresh. → Ces tomates sont locales et fraîches.
Expressing a quantity
A precise quantity is built in English with a unit followed by of and the name of the product.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| a kilo of apples | un kilo de pommes |
| a bottle of water | une bouteille d’eau |
| a can of tomatoes | une boîte de tomates |
| a slice of ham | une tranche de jambon |
| a piece of cheese | un morceau de fromage |
| a bag of rice | un sac de riz |
| a dozen eggs | une douzaine d’œufs |
| a little / a lot of / too much / too many | un peu de / beaucoup de / trop de |
Useful phrases for asking for directions
- Could you tell me where the dairy section is? → Pourriez-vous me dire où se trouve le rayon laitages ?
- Where can I find bread flour? → Où puis-je trouver de la farine à pain ?
- Excuse me, where are the eggs? → Excusez-moi, où sont les œufs ?
- I can’t find the baking soda. → Je ne trouve pas le bicarbonate de soude.
Useful phrases for quantity and price
- I’d like a kilo of apples, please. → Je voudrais un kilo de pommes, s’il vous plaît.
- Can I get half a dozen eggs? → Puis-je avoir une demi-douzaine d’œufs ?
- How much is this? → Combien ça coûte ?
- Is this on sale? → Est-ce en promotion ?
At the checkout
- Have you got a coin for the trolley? → As-tu une pièce pour le caddie ?
- Can I pay by card? → Puis-je payer par carte ?
- Cash or card? → Espèces ou carte ?
- Do you need a bag? → Avez-vous besoin d’un sac ?
- Here’s your receipt. → Voici votre ticket de caisse.
Understanding store signs
In-store signs use specific vocabulary, often abbreviated, which is useful to recognize quickly.
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BOGO / Buy One Get One Free | un article acheté, un offert |
| Sale / On sale | en promotion, prix réduit |
| Organic | issu de l’agriculture biologique |
| Gluten-free | sans gluten |
| Best-by date / Sell-by date | date limite de consommation / de vente |
| Express checkout (10 items or less) | caisse rapide (10 articles ou moins) |
| Self-checkout | caisse automatique |
Example dialogue at the supermarket
Customer: Excuse me, where can I find the olive oil?
Employee: It’s in aisle 4, next to the vinegar.
Customer: Thank you. And do you have any gluten-free bread?
Employee: Yes, it’s in the bakery section, on the left.
Customer (at the checkout): Can I pay by card?
Cashier: Of course. Do you need a bag?
Customer: No, thanks, I’ve got my own.
Some useful tips
- Polite phrases: please and thank you accompany almost all requests, including the shortest ones like Can I have a bag, please?
- The shopping list: a shopping list is still useful to show directly to an employee if you get stuck on a word.
- Labels: a label (price tag or label) often indicates the price, weight, origin, and mentions like organic or gluten-free.
- Self-checkout machines: a self-checkout allows you to scan and pay without going through a cashier, handy when the line is long.
