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The 5 Sentences That Save You in Any Shop in Britain
الجمل الخمس اللي تنقذك في أي محل في بريطانيا
What you will learn
ماذا ستتعلّم
- Five key sentences for shopping in any British shop
- How to ask for sizes, pay, and get a bag
- Cultural tips about prices and politeness in Britain
You walk into a shop in London. The assistant says something friendly. Your mind goes blank. You point at things. You nod. You leave with something you didn't want.
تدخل محل في لندن وما تدري وش تقول — هالخمس جمل تنقذك في أي موقف تسوّق.
It doesn't have to be this way.
The truth is, almost every shopping conversation in Britain follows the same pattern. You only need five sentences to handle 90% of what happens. Here they are.
1. "I'm just looking, thanks."
أنا بس أتفرّج، شكرًا.
This is your shield. In British shops, assistants will come up to you and ask "Can I help you?" or "Are you looking for anything?" — sometimes before you've even taken two steps inside.
If you're not ready to buy, just say: "I'm just looking, thanks."It's polite, it's normal, and they will leave you alone. The "thanks" at the end is important — it keeps things friendly.
I'm just looking, thanks.
أنا بس أتفرّج، شكرًا.
I'm just browsing, thank you.
أنا بس أتصفّح، شكرًا.
2. "Do you have this in...?"
هل عندكم هذا بـ...؟
You found something you like, but you want a different size or colour. This sentence does all the work:
Do you have this in a medium?
هل عندكم هذا بمقاس وسط؟
Do you have this in black?
هل عندكم هذا باللون الأسود؟
Do you have this in a smaller size?
هل عندكم هذا بمقاس أصغر؟
Just change the last word and it works for anything — colour, size, style. One sentence, dozens of uses.
Try this
You like a jacket but you want it in blue. How do you ask?
See the answer
"Do you have this in blue?" — just swap the last word.
3. "Can I try this on?"
ممكن أجرّب هذا؟
Before you buy clothes, you want to try them on. Ask: "Can I try this on?" The assistant will point you to the fitting room(some shops say "changing room" — same thing).
If it doesn't fit, you now need one of these:
Can I try this on?
ممكن أجرّب هذا؟
It's too big.
كبير مرّة.
It's too small.
صغير مرّة.
It doesn't fit.
ما يناسبني.
True or false?
In British shops, 'fitting room' and 'changing room' mean different things.
See the answer
False — They mean exactly the same thing. Different shops just use different words.
4. "Can I pay by card?"
ممكن أدفع بالبطاقة؟
Almost everywhere in Britain accepts cards now, but it's still a good question in smaller shops or markets. The cashier will either say "Yes, of course" or "Sorry, cash only."
Can I pay by card?
ممكن أدفع بالبطاقة؟
I'll pay in cash.
بدفع كاش.
Do you take contactless?
تقبلون الدفع بدون تلامس؟
Good to know
معلومة مفيدة
In Britain, the price on the label is the price you pay — tax is already included. No surprises at the till. Also, haggling isn't a thing in high-street shops. The market is a different story, though.
في بريطانيا، السعر على اللصقة هو اللي تدفعه — الضريبة داخلة. والمفاصلة ما تنفع في المحلات الكبيرة.
Hear real shopping conversations in the Travel English Course.
5. "Can I have a bag, please?"
ممكن كيس من فضلك؟
In Britain, plastic bags cost money — usually around 10p or 20p. Shops won't automatically give you one. If you need a bag, ask for it.
And that's it. Five sentences. You now have enough English for any shop in the country.
Can I have a bag, please?
ممكن كيس من فضلك؟
I've got my own bag, thanks.
عندي كيس خاص، شكرًا.
Which is correct?
You want to ask for a bag at the checkout. Which sounds more natural?
See the answer
B: Can I have a bag, please? — Option A sounds like a demand. British shops run on 'please' and 'thank you'.
All 5 in one place
الخمس جمل في مكان واحد
1. I'm just looking, thanks.
١. أنا بس أتفرّج، شكرًا.
2. Do you have this in...?
٢. هل عندكم هذا بـ...؟
3. Can I try this on?
٣. ممكن أجرّب هذا؟
4. Can I pay by card?
٤. ممكن أدفع بالبطاقة؟
5. Can I have a bag, please?
٥. ممكن كيس من فضلك؟
One thing to take away
شيء واحد تاخذه معك
Shopping in English isn't about knowing hundreds of words. It's about knowing the right five sentences and saying "please" a lot. British people love "please." You could probably buy a house with just "please" and "thank you."
5 sentences. Any shop. You're ready.
٥ جمل. أي محل. أنت جاهز.
Want to build your own shopping sentences? Try the Grammar section.
Keep learning
واصل التعلّم
Try this next:
جرّب هذا بعدين:
- "Sorry, What?" — How to Ask Someone to Repeat Without Feeling AwkwardLearn natural, polite ways to ask someone to repeat what they said in English.
- What to Say When You Don't Understand the WaiterSimple English phrases for restaurants when you don't understand the waiter.
- How to Say "No" Politely in English (Without Lying)Learn polite ways to say no in English without being rude or dishonest.
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أكاديمية لومينا فيها تمارين قواعد واستماع ودورات كاملة — كلها مجانية للبداية. سجّل حساب عشان تحفظ تقدّمك وتكمل من حيث وقفت.
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