#34 Shopping at a Convenience Store｜Useful English Phrases for Shopping

Convenience stores are very helpful when you want to buy drinks, snacks, or daily necessities while traveling abroad.

Being able to ask for items, look for what you need, and make payments in English will help you shop smoothly in English-speaking countries.

In this article, I introduce useful English expressions commonly used in convenience stores, along with key phrases for checkout and communication tips at the register.

Dialogue

A

Excuse me, where can I find bottled water?

B

Aisle 3, next to the soft drinks.

A

Thank you. And do you have any umbrellas?

B

Yes, near the entrance.

A

Great. I’ll take this one.

B

That will be $5.50. Do you need a bag?

A

No, I’m good.

1. Asking Where Items Are Located

When you don’t know where certain items are in a convenience store, use: “Where can I find ～?”

Using “can I find” with I as the subject makes the question softer and less direct.

Other examples:

Store employees often use expressions like “Aisle 3,” which is common in supermarkets and convenience stores. The word “aisle” refers to a row or passage between shelves.

2. Asking Whether the Store Has Something

To ask “Do you have ～?” you can use:

Adding any gives the question a polite tone, meaning “Do you have any, if possible?”

Other examples:

This structure is useful not only in convenience stores but in any shopping situation while traveling.

3. How Prices Are Announced

At the register, the clerk will typically say:

This is a standard expression meaning “Your total is ～.” It may also be shortened to “That’ll be ～.”

4. Asking Whether You Need a Bag

You will almost always hear this question after paying:

In many countries such as the U.S. and the U.K., the use of reusable bags is encouraged, and plastic bags may be charged or provided only upon request.

Common responses:

The expression “I’m good.” is casual and means “I’m fine” or “I don’t need one.”

Summary