Vocabulary for buying clothes at the store — ESL lesson

This lesson covers buying clothes in a store. Whether someone is shopping for a new shirt, dress, or pair of jeans, knowing the right words and phrases in English can make the experience easier and more enjoyable.

This guide is designed to help beginner and intermediate English learners master essential vocabulary, useful phrases, and realistic conversations for shopping in a clothing store. Through practical examples, role-plays, and engaging activities, you’ll help ESL learners gain the confidence to navigate a store, ask questions, and make purchases in English.

Basic vocabulary

Start with essential words related to buying clothes in a store. These should be simple, commonly used terms that learners can easily apply.

Vocabulary list

• Clothing/clothes: Items you wear (e.g., shirt, pants).
• Store/shop: A place where you buy clothes (e.g., clothing store).
• Salesperson: The person who helps customers in the store.
• Fitting room: A place to try on clothes.
• Size: The measurement of clothing (e.g., small, medium, large).
• Price: The cost of an item (e.g., $25).
• Cash: Physical money (e.g., bills or coins).
• Credit/debit card: A card used to pay for items.
• Receipt: Proof of purchase.
• Discount/sale: A reduced price (e.g., 30% off).
• Try On: To test how clothes fit before buying.
• Return: Giving an item back to the store.
• Exchange: Swapping an item for another.
• Color: The shade of clothing (e.g., blue, red).
• Material: What the clothing is made of (e.g., cotton, wool).

Vocabulary words for extension

• Brand: The company or name of the clothing (e.g., Nike, Zara).
• Tag: The label on clothes showing size, price, or brand.
• Hanger: The tool used to hang clothes in the store.
• Style: The design or type of clothing (e.g., casual, formal).
• Fit: How well clothes suit your body (e.g., loose fit, tight fit).
• Pattern: The design on clothes (e.g., striped, floral).
• Wallet/purse: Where you keep money or cards for payment.
• Tax: Extra money added to the price for government fees.
• Queue/line: Where customers wait to pay.
• Promotion: A special offer to encourage buying (e.g., buy one, get one free).

Teaching tips

• Use visuals like pictures of clothes, a store counter, or a fitting room to connect vocabulary to real contexts.
• Practice pronunciation of terms like “receipt” (re-SEET) or “material” (muh-TEER-ee-ul).
• Create flashcards with words on one side and images or definitions on the other for quick recall.

Useful phrases

Teach simple sentence structures for buying clothes in a store. These phrases should be practical and adaptable for real-life situations.

Key phrases

1. Starting the purchase
   • “I’m looking for a [shirt/dress/etc.].”
   • “Do you have this in [size/color]?”
   • “Can I try this on?”
   • “How much is this?”
2. During the purchase
   • “I’ll take this, please.”
   • “I’ll pay with [cash/credit card].”
   • “Can I have a bag, please?”
   • “Can you give me the receipt?”
3. Expressing preferences or issues
   • “It’s too [big/small/tight].”
   • “Can I return this if it doesn’t fit?”
   • “I like this color, but do you have it in [another color]?”
   • “Is this on sale?”
4. Asking questions
   • “Do you have this in a [smaller/larger] size?”
   • “Where’s the fitting room?”
   • “Do you accept credit cards?”
   • “Can I exchange this later?”

Teaching tip

• Write phrases on a board or handout and model their use (e.g., “I’m looking for a jacket. Do you have it in blue?”).
• Have learners substitute their own clothing items, sizes, or colors into the phrases.
• Practice polite forms (e.g., “Can you…” or “I’d like…”) to emphasize courtesy in stores.

Example conversations

Provide short, realistic dialogues to model how to buy clothes in a store. These examples progress from basic to more detailed.

Conversation 1: Basic exchange

Customer (Anna): Hello, I’m looking for a shirt.
Salesperson (Tom): Sure, what size?
Anna: Medium, please. Do you have it in black?
Tom: Yes, here it is. It’s $20. Want to try it on?
Anna: Yes, please. Where’s the fitting room?
Tom: Over there. Let me know if it fits!

Conversation 2: Adding details

Customer (Sara): Hi, do you have this dress in small?
Salesperson (Juan): Let me check. Yes, we have it in small, in red or blue.
Sara: I’ll try the blue one. Is it on sale?
Juan: Yes, it’s 25% off, so it’s $30.
Sara: Great! I’ll take it. Can I pay with a credit card?
Juan: Sure. Do you want a bag and the receipt?

Conversation 3: More advanced

Customer (Mark): Excuse me, I’m looking for jeans. Do you have these in size 32?
Salesperson (Lisa): Yes, we do. They’re cotton, and they’re $45. Want to try them on?
Mark: Yes, please. Also, do you have them in black?
Lisa: Sorry, only blue for that size. The fitting room is on the right.
Mark: Okay, they fit well. I’ll take them. Can I return them if I change my mind?
Lisa: Yes, within 14 days with the receipt. Will you pay with cash or card?

Teaching tips

• Role-play these dialogues with the learner, switching roles to practice both customer and salesperson perspectives.
• Encourage learners to adapt the dialogues using clothes they might buy (e.g., a jacket, shoes).
• In group settings, pair students to practice, prompting them to ask at least one follow-up question.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step lesson plan to teach this topic effectively (approximately 45 minutes):

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Ask: “What clothes do you like to buy? Do you shop at stores?” to spark interest.
• Show a picture or video clip of a clothing store (e.g., a rack of clothes or a fitting room) and describe it briefly (e.g., “This is a clothing store. You can try on clothes here.”).

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

• Present the vocabulary list using visuals or a slideshow of a clothing store.
• Practice pronunciation, especially for terms like “fitting room” or “material.”
• Play a quick game: Say a clothing item (e.g., “shirt”), and learners name a related word (e.g., “size” or “color”).

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

• Display key phrases and model them with your own example (e.g., “I’m looking for a sweater. Do you have it in large?”).
• Have learners practice by filling in the blanks (e.g., “I’m looking for a ____. Do you have it in ____?”).
• Correct pronunciation and grammar gently, emphasizing polite language.

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

• Read one example conversation aloud, emphasizing natural tone and politeness.
• Pair learners (or role-play with them) to practice the dialogues, encouraging personalization.
• Ask learners to create their own short dialogue about buying clothes in a store.

Step 5: Wrap-up and personalization (5 minutes)

• Have each learner share one or two sentences about buying clothes (e.g., “I bought a dress. It was blue and on sale.”).
• Provide feedback on their use of vocabulary and phrases.
• Assign homework: Write 3-5 sentences about a recent clothing purchase or practice a dialogue with a friend.

Additional tips

• Cultural sensitivity: Be aware that clothing styles, sizes, or shopping customs may vary by culture. Discuss differences (e.g., sizing systems like US vs. EU) if relevant.
• Visual aids: Use images or videos of clothing stores or try-on processes (e.g., from YouTube or ESL resources) to make the lesson engaging.
• Listening practice: Play a short audio or video of a store purchase interaction to expose learners to different accents and real-life scenarios.
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases (e.g., “I want this shirt.”). For intermediate learners, encourage details (e.g., “I like this jacket, but it’s too small. Do you have a larger size?”).
• Incorporate technology: If teaching online, share a screen with a clothing store website or use a virtual whiteboard to highlight vocabulary.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners may say “How much this?” instead of “How much is this?” Emphasize the verb “is.”
• Pronunciation: Terms like “receipt” or “fitting room” may be mispronounced. Practice these explicitly.
• Politeness: Remind learners to use polite phrases like “please” and “thank you” to sound natural in English-speaking stores.

Example activity: “Clothing store role-play”

For group classes, try this interactive activity:

• Set up a mock clothing store with props (e.g., clothes, a toy cash register, or fake money).
• Assign roles (customer and salesperson) and give learners a scenario (e.g., “Buy a pair of pants for $25.”).
• Learners act out the purchase, using vocabulary and phrases, while others ask questions (e.g., “Did you try it on?”).

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) about a recent clothing purchase or a favorite clothing store.
• Speaking: Record a 30-second audio or video acting out a clothing store purchase dialogue.
• Research: Visit a clothing store (or imagine one) and write down three new words related to buying clothes (e.g., “hanger,” “tag,” “brand”).