The Vocabulary Show: Supermarkets 🛒 Learn 37 English words and phrases in 15 minutes! 🏪

Going to the supermarket can be a fun and enjoyable experience,

especially for those who are new to a foreign country.

However, it can be a bit overwhelming,

particularly if you're not familiar with the vocabulary that you need.

In this video, we'll take you on a virtual tour of a supermarket

and teach you all the words, phrases and idioms that you need.

So, let's grab our shopping trolley and get started.

A 'shopping trolley' is a wheeled cart

that you use to carry items while you are shopping.

You usually find them at the entrance of the store

and you push them around while you are doing your shopping.

In British English, we call them 'trolleys' or 'shopping trolleys',

while in American English, they are more likely to say 'cart' or 'shopping cart'.

But what if you only have a few items and you don't want to push around a big cart?

Then grab yourself a 'shopping basket'.

A 'basket' is the handheld container

that you use to carry around your shopping.

They are smaller than shopping carts and easier to manoeuvre.

Deciding on whether to use a shopping basket or a shopping trolley

depends on how much shopping you are planning to do.

Maybe, you are planning to 'do a big shop'.

This is a British and Australian slang phrase

which means that you do a big purchase,

you buy many things at the same time, so that you have enough food or groceries

to last you for maybe a week or maybe a month

and this means you don't have to keep on returning to the store multiple times.

For example, there's not much food left in the cupboards.

Let's go and do a big shop.

Other people 'do a weekly shop'

and this is where you go, usually on a set day once a week,

to get your shopping for that seven-day period,

so you don't have to continually go to the store again and again.

For example, Clint's family do a weekly shop every Sunday.

OK, we've got our trolley. What are we going to buy first?

Let's consult our shopping list and find out.

A 'shopping list' is a list of items that somebody wants to purchase

at the supermarket or grocery store.

I don't know about you, but I tend to be very forgetful and disorganised,

so a shopping list really helps me with focusing on getting the things I need

and making sure that I don't forget anything.

A shopping list can be written down physically on paper

or it can be stored on your phone or tablet to take with you to the store.

As we navigate the supermarket,

you'll notice that the store is organised into long, narrow spaces called 'aisles'.

An 'aisle' is a pathway where customers can browse and select products.

For example: You can find the pasta in aisle 4, next to the canned vegetables.

Listen to the pronunciation —

'aisle'.

The 'a' is silent and so is the 's',

so it sounds a lot like the 'I'll' in 'I'll go to the park tomorrow'.

'Aisle'.

But we also talk about aisles as the walkways between rows of seats,

so you can find aisles on planes, in cinemas and in churches

and this is why we sometimes call getting married 'walking down the aisle'.

OK, back to the supermarket.

As we walk down each aisle, you'll see the products arranged on shelves.

A 'shelf' is a long, flat, horizontal surface

used for displaying and storing products.

'Shelf' is an irregular plural noun.

This means when there is more than one of them,

we say 'shelves' — there's an extra 'v' sound.

One shelf, two shelves.

So, be careful with the spelling and the pronunciation.

Remember, aisles help you navigate the store,

while shelves hold the products that you are looking for.

As well as being organised by aisles,

supermarkets are also organised by 'section'.

These are areas where specific types of products are grouped together.

So, let's take a look at some of the different sections

of a typical supermarket.

Usually near the front of a supermarket, you will find the bakery section.

The 'bakery section' is where you find freshly-baked bread,

pastries and other baked goods

and they usually put it at the front of the store so that that nice, lovely aroma

entices you in and makes you nice and hungry,

so that you want to spend a lot of money in the supermarket.

Most supermarkets will have a fruit and veg section.

This is where you find fresh fruit and vegetables.

OK, while we're in the fruit and veg section,

let's take a look at the pronunciation of the word 'vegetable'.

Now, there are two common ways of pronouncing it

and both are equally correct.

You can say it with 4 syllables — veg-eh-tuh-bull —

or you can say it with 3 syllables — veg-tuh-bull.

Veg-eh-tuh-bull, veg-tuh-bull.

Both of them are fine and are commonly used throughout the UK.

However, it is also common to shorten it to just three letters,

V-E-G, 'veg'.

Now, you might also hear this part of a supermarket referred to

as the produce section.

'Produce' or 'fresh produce' is another way to collectively refer to

the fruits and vegetables that you might find in a supermarket or grocery store.

So, we've finished up in the fruit and veg section.

Let's move on to the dairy section.

This is where you find dairy products.

'Dairy', which is an uncountable noun,

is any food or drink which contains milk.

So, this includes milk, obviously,

butter, cheese, cream or yoghurt, for example.

As we continue our journey through the supermarket,

let's make our way over to the frozen food section.

This area of the store is dedicated to food items

which have been preserved by freezing them,

so that they can last longer and that you can enjoy them at your convenience.

In this section, you'll find a wide variety of food, such as frozen fruits,

frozen vegetables,

ready meals, ice creams, desserts and more.

In addition to the various sections of a supermarket,

you can also find various counters.

Now, a 'counter' is a long, flat surface where specific products are displayed.

These counters usually have employees who can help you with your selection,

answer questions and prepare or package your food for you.

Personally, my favourite part of the supermarket is the deli counter.

The 'deli counter' is where you buy freshly prepared or sliced meats,

cheeses or other delicious products, such as olives, salads or fresh sandwiches.

Now, you might notice that 'deli' is quite an unusual spelling.

Not many words in English end in an 'i', do they?

And this is because 'deli' is a shortened form of the full word 'delicatessen'.

So you can call it the deli, which is very, very common,

or a delicatessen, which is the full form, but less commonly used.

The deli counter, you usually ask for items by weight or by number of slices.

So, you might say,

'I'll have three slices of ham and 200 grams of black olives, please."

In a nearby section of the supermarket,

you will usually find the meat counter'

This is where you find your raw and cooked meats.

So, if you're looking to cook up some ribeyes or T-bone steaks,

be sure to head over to the meat counter.

Similarly, you are also likely to find the fish counter here.

Now, it's called a 'fish counter',

but this is the area where we sell all uncooked fish and seafood.

While shopping, be sure to check the 'best before date'.

This indicates when your food should be consumed by

for the best quality.

It shows us that after this date, the food is likely to start deteriorating

and will not taste as nice as it did previously.

The 'expiration date' or 'expiry date' is different.

This is the date after which you should definitely not eat this food.

This is the date after which the food should not be consumed for safety reasons.

We also have an expression where we say something is past its expiration date.

If something is 'past its expiration date',

then it is no longer effective, useful or relevant.

Now, we can use it about food in the supermarket

that is past its expiration date,

but we can also use it in a more metaphorical way.

For example: My manager's ideas are past their expiration date.

It's time to bring in someone new with fresh ideas.

Now, you might hear a very similar expression with a very similar meaning —

'past its sell-by date'.

For example: The computer software they're using is past its sell-by date.

It's time to upgrade.

When you've completed your shopping and are ready to pay,

it's time to head over to the checkout counter.

'Checkout counter' is the full expression,

but a lot of people will just say 'checkout'.

This is where a cashier will scan your items,

bag your items and ask for payment.

These are located near the exit

and are where the customer pays for their shopping.

So we can say the full expression — 'checkout counter' —

or we can just say 'the checkout'.

In British English,

we also call the checkout counter or the checkout the till.

The 'till' is the actual machine that a cashier uses —

it's where they put in the details and where the money comes in and out —

but we also use it in a more general term to mean 'checkout'.

So: I paid at the till and left.

The person who works at the checkout counter is called the 'cashier'

or the 'checkout assistant'.

They are responsible for greeting you, scanning your items,

receiving payment and, sometimes, they'll also help you bag your items.

OK, so we have put our items on the conveyor belt

and the cashier has scanned them.

Next, they ask us, "Do you have a loyalty card?"

Many supermarkets offer 'loyalty cards'

that allow customers to earn points or rewards for their purchases.

These rewards include discounts, vouchers or free items

and they can save the customer some money.

However, they are designed to keep you shopping and loyal

with one particular brand of supermarket.

So, when it's time to pay,

the cashier might ask you, "Do you have a loyalty card?"

And you can reply yes or no, depending on whether you do or not.

Nowadays, you might also have the choice of a 'self-checkout'.

These are tills or checkout counters without employees, without cashiers,

and you have to scan and bag your own items.

Over the last ten or twelve years, these have become increasingly popular

and you can see them in many large supermarkets.

OK, your shopping is done and it is time to pay.

While, of course, you can use cash,

a common method nowadays is to 'pay by card'

and this is when you use your debit or your credit card to pay for your shopping.

For example, I don't think I have my money with me.

I'll pay by card today.

Once you've paid, the cashier's likely to ask you whether you want a plastic bag.

A 'plastic bag' is a disposable bag that is provided by the supermarket or store

and enables you to take your goods home.

In British English, it's also common to call it a 'carrier bag'

and this is because it helps you to carry your bags home.

Last, but not least, is the 'receipt'.

Now, this is the list of items that you have purchased

and their corresponding prices.

Notice the pronunciation with a silent 'p' —

re-seet,

re-seet.

OK? So, we don't have to pronounce that 'p'.

OK, well, there you have it, folks.

We've wheeled our trolley through the aisles of the virtual supermarket.

We've looked at various counters, various sections,

and we've got a greater understanding of the vocabulary needed

to guide our way through the supermarket.

Before you go, here's a quick reminder

of all the vocabulary we have looked at today.

Be sure to write any new ones down in your vocabulary books

and practise, practise, practise.

So, whether you're doing a big shop or just picking up a few essential items,

we hope that this guide

has made navigating the supermarket a piece of cake.

And, of course, hit subscribe to stay up-to-date with all our English lessons.

Now, in the comment sections,

I would love to hear from you what are your shopping successes,

what are your shopping failures?

Going to the supermarket or to a new shop, a new store,

when you are learning a language

can be both exciting and a little bit nerve-racking,

so share your stories.

How did your first shopping in English go?

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to find our vocabulary lessons on travel and eating at a restaurant.

Happy shopping and I'll see you next time. Bye!