A1

At the supermarket

Shopping for food and asking for prices

Goal: Buy groceries at the supermarket: ask for products, prices and quantities.

Context

Listen to the dialogue. Tap the speaker to hear each line.

Cliente

Disculpe, ¿dónde está la sección de lácteos?

Excuse me, where is the dairy section?

Empleado

Está al fondo, a la derecha. ¿Necesita ayuda con algo más?

It is at the back, on the right. Do you need help with anything else?

Cliente

Sí, ¿cuánto cuesta el pan integral?

Yes, how much does the whole-wheat bread cost?

Empleado

Cuesta dos dólares y medio. Hoy tiene descuento.

It costs two and a half dollars. It is on sale today.

Cliente

Perfecto. También necesito una docena de huevos y un litro de leche.

Perfect. I also need a dozen eggs and a liter of milk.

Empleado

Muy bien, todo está en la caja al lado de la salida.

Very well, everything is at the checkout next to the exit.

Practice the dialogue

Choose a role. You'll hear my line and then record yours, automatically, turn by turn.

I'll practice the role of:

Dialogue recorded! Press play to hear the full conversation.

Choose your role to start

Vocabulary

Save the words you find hard to review them in your dashboard.

el supermercado

Voy al supermercado todos los sábados.

Short: 'el súper'.

the supermarket

Save

la sección

La sección de frutas está al fondo.

Use 'la sección de...' for any department.

the section (aisle)

Save

los lácteos

Compro lácteos cada semana.

From 'leche'. Includes cheese and yogurt.

the dairy products

Save

el pan

El pan está recién hecho.

'El pan integral' = whole-wheat bread.

the bread

Save

los huevos

Necesito una docena de huevos.

Huevo = egg; una docena = a dozen (12).

the eggs

Save

la leche

Compro un litro de leche.

'La leche' is feminine: la leche, una leche.

the milk

Save

el descuento

Hay un descuento del veinte por ciento.

'En oferta' = on sale.

the discount

Save

la caja

Pago en la caja.

'La caja' is also 'the box'. 'Cajero/a' = cashier.

the checkout

Save

el carrito

Tome un carrito para las compras.

In Spain: 'el carro de la compra' or 'la cesta' (basket).

the shopping cart

Save

la lista

Hice una lista antes de salir.

'Hacer la lista' = to make the list.

the shopping list

Save

Grammar in 1 minute

Un, una, unos, unas (indefinite articles)

'Un litro', 'una docena', 'unos huevos' (some eggs), 'unas manzanas'. Unos/unas = 'some' for plurals. Quantity words: 'un kilo de', 'una docena de', 'un paquete de', 'una botella de'.

Quiero un kilo de tomates y una botella de agua.

Quantity + de + noun: un kilo DE manzanas.

Necesito vs. quiero

'Necesito' = I need (stronger), 'quiero' = I want. Both take a noun or an infinitive: 'Necesito comprar pan', 'Quiero un café'.

Necesito huevos. Quiero pagar con tarjeta.

For polite requests use 'quisiera' or 'me daría'.

Interactive practice

Each exercise is checked instantly. You need an account to save your progress.

What does the customer need?

Listen and choose the correct option.

listening

What does the customer need?

¿Cuánto … el pan integral?

Write the missing word or words.

writing
¿Cuánto el pan integral?

Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.

matching

Connect each Spanish word with its English meaning.

reading

Ask a supermarket employee where the dairy section is and h…

Write your answer in Spanish.

writing

Ask a supermarket employee where the dairy section is and how much bread costs.

Suggested answer: Disculpe, ¿dónde está la sección de lácteos? ¿Cuánto cuesta el pan?

El pan cuesta dos dólares y medio, hoy tiene descuento.

Listen and repeat the sentence out loud.

speaking

El pan cuesta dos dólares y medio, hoy tiene descuento.

The bread costs two and a half dollars; it is on sale today.

Listen, pause and repeat out loud. Repeat 3 times until it sounds natural.

Great. Repeat tomorrow to lock it in.

Pronunciation trainer

Final quiz

Score 70% or more to unlock the next lesson. You can retake it as many times as you want; your best score is saved.