Most German shop conversations follow a script, and the script is short: a greeting, a question about what you want, a price, a question about how you're paying, and a schönen Tag noch. Once you know the lines, you'll recognise them in every shop in the country.
The line that catches newcomers is the cashier's question as you open your wallet: Haben Sie es passend? — "Do you have the exact amount?" Germany still runs on cash more than most of Europe, and cashiers genuinely care about their coins.
Finding What You Want
Where can I find…?
Wo finde ich…?
Do you have…?
Haben Sie…?
I'm looking for…
Ich suche…
Can you help me?
Können Sie mir helfen?
I'm just looking, thanks.
Ich schaue nur, danke.
Do you have this in another colour?
Haben Sie das in einer anderen Farbe?
Is this still available?
Gibt es das noch?
When will it be back in stock?
Wann kommt das wieder rein?
Practice these words
Wo finde ich…?
Quick note: Ich schaue nur, danke is the polite way to decline help in a clothes or electronics shop. Staff will leave you alone after it.
Prices
How much is this?
Was kostet das?
How much are these?
Was kosten die?
That's too expensive.
Das ist zu teuer.
Is there anything cheaper?
Gibt es das auch günstiger?
Is this on offer?
Ist das im Angebot?
Is the price per piece?
Ist der Preis pro Stück?
That comes to 12.40.
Das macht 12,40.
Practice these words
Was kostet das?
Quick notes:
- Das macht… is how cashiers announce the total. Das macht zwölf Euro vierzig.
- Haggling isn't part of German shopping, outside flea markets. Prices on the shelf are final.
- Price vocabulary and how to read 12,40 € are in numbers.
Clothes and Sizes
Can I try this on?
Kann ich das anprobieren?
Where are the changing rooms?
Wo sind die Umkleidekabinen?
Do you have this in size M?
Haben Sie das in Größe M?
It's too big.
Es ist zu groß.
It's too small.
Es ist zu klein.
It fits.
Es passt.
It suits me.
Es steht mir.
I'll take it.
Ich nehme es.
Practice these words
Kann ich das anprobieren?
Quick note: passen is about fit, stehen is about looks. A jacket can passen perfectly and still not stehen you. The full clothes vocabulary is in clothes.
At the Till
Can I pay by card?
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Cash or card?
Bar oder mit Karte?
Cash only.
Nur Barzahlung.
Contactless, please.
Kontaktlos, bitte.
Do you have the exact amount?
Haben Sie es passend?
Do you have ten cents?
Haben Sie zehn Cent?
Do you need a bag?
Brauchen Sie eine Tüte?
No thanks, I have one.
Nein danke, ich habe eine.
Would you like the receipt?
Möchten Sie den Kassenbon?
Do you have a loyalty card?
Haben Sie eine Kundenkarte?
Keep the change.
Stimmt so.
Practice these words
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Quick notes:
- Haben Sie zehn Cent? isn't a request for a tip. The cashier wants to give you back a round number — if your total is 12,10 and you hand over 20, adding 10 cents means you get 8 euros back instead of a pile of coins.
- Karte usually means a German debit card (Girocard, often still called EC-Karte). Visa and Mastercard are much more widely accepted than they used to be, but small bakeries, market stalls and some restaurants are still cash-only. Check for a Nur Barzahlung sign before you order.
- Stimmt so is for cafés, taxis and restaurants, not supermarkets.
Exchanges and Returns
I'd like to exchange this.
Ich möchte das umtauschen.
I'd like to return this.
Ich möchte das zurückgeben.
Here is the receipt.
Hier ist der Kassenbon.
It's broken.
Es ist kaputt.
It doesn't work.
Es funktioniert nicht.
Can I get my money back?
Kann ich das Geld zurückbekommen?
Can I get a voucher?
Bekomme ich einen Gutschein?
Practice these words
Ich möchte das umtauschen.
Quick notes:
- For things bought in a shop, German law gives you no automatic right to return an item just because you changed your mind. Most larger chains allow it anyway, often within 14 or 30 days — but it's goodwill, and many shops offer a Gutschein (voucher) instead of cash.
- Faulty goods are different. If it's broken, es ist kaputt is a legal complaint, not a favour, and the shop has to fix, replace or refund it.
- Online orders do come with a 14-day right to cancel — the Widerrufsrecht.
What to Know About Shopping in Germany
The script is short on purpose. A German cashier won't make small talk while scanning, and that isn't unfriendly. Greet on arrival, answer the payment question, say danke and tschüss. That's a complete, polite interaction.
Cash is still normal. Germany has moved towards card payments, especially since 2020, but carrying 20 or 30 euros in cash is still sensible. A surprising number of places — bakeries, market stalls, small restaurants, Kneipen — still take cash only.
Service is precise, not effusive. Ask a shop assistant a question and you'll get an exact answer. Ask whether something is good value and you may get an honest nein.
Three Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming card is accepted everywhere. Look for the sign first, especially in bakeries.
Expecting a no-questions refund. Keep the receipt, and ask about the return policy before you buy anything expensive.
Mixing up passen and stehen. Es passt mir means it fits; Es steht mir means it looks good on you.