Shopping, prices and money

What you’ll learn

• Ask a price with cuesta or cuestan.
• Request a size or another option.
• Use direct-object pronouns when choosing an item.

Ask for the right item

Busco... tells a shop assistant what you are looking for. You can add a size, color or purpose: Busco una chaqueta azul. Talla commonly refers to clothing size, while número is common for shoe size. ¿Tiene otra talla? asks for another size using a respectful singular form of address.

Use ¿Cuánto cuesta? for one item and ¿Cuánto cuestan? for several. Costar changes o to ue in these present forms. Prices may be written with a decimal comma in Spanish-speaking settings, but local practices vary. Read the currency and amount together, and ask someone to repeat or write a price if it is unclear.

Choose and pay

Compare options with más barato, más caro or mejor para... Explain the criterion that matters: Esta mochila es más pequeña, pero pesa menos. A direct-object pronoun avoids repeating a product name: La compro refers to a feminine singular item. Me lo llevo is a useful fixed expression for deciding to take a masculine singular item.

Con tarjeta means by card, and en efectivo means in cash. Ask ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? before assuming a payment method is accepted. A recibo or tique records a purchase. If you need to exchange something, explain the situation and ask about the shop's actual policy rather than assuming a universal rule.

Useful vocabulary

la talla

the clothing size

en efectivo

in cash

el recibo

the receipt

Common mistakes

• Match cuesta/cuestan to the item or items.
• Use the local currency, not an assumed one, when confirming an amount.
• A pronoun replacing la chaqueta is la, regardless of the buyer's gender.

Keep these ideas

• Say what you need, then ask size and price.
• Compare options using a clear criterion.
• Confirm payment method and ask for the receipt.

Use it in your life

Create a short shop dialogue for a story character buying a needed object. Include two options, a price question and a payment question.

Read it in context

Look for this lesson’s ideas in a complete Spanish story. Read the passage first, then use its translations to check your understanding.