Markets & Souvenirs

1. How much does this cost?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase for asking the price of an item at a market

   Grammar Note

   "How much is this?" works equally well. "Cost" as a verb means "to be priced at"

2. Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Politely asking if the price is open to negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "Bargain" suggests polite negotiation; "haggle" implies more vigorous price-arguing

3. Would you take 10 dollars for it?

   Usage

   Offering your counter-price during negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Using "would" makes the offer polite and tentative. Very common phrasing at markets

4. Can you give me a discount if I buy several?

   Usage

   Asking for a bulk discount when buying multiple items

   Grammar Note

   Specifying "if I buy two/three" strengthens your bargaining position

5. Is this handmade or locally made?

   Usage

   Asking whether a craft is handmade or locally produced

   Grammar Note

   "Handmade" and "locally made" can overlap but aren't identical. Worth asking both

6. What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material of a garment or craft

   Grammar Note

   "Made of" implies visible material; "made from" implies transformation (e.g., wine is made from grapes)

7. Could you gift-wrap this please?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping for a present

   Grammar Note

   "Could you" is more polite than "Can you". Department stores often offer free wrapping, markets may charge

8. Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "The" implies a specific well-known night market. "Any night market" would suggest any one will do

9. Can I have a receipt please?

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt, especially for expense reporting

   Grammar Note

   "May I have a receipt?" is even more polite. Stall vendors may have only handwritten receipts or none

10. What are the market's opening hours?

    Usage

    Asking the market's operating hours

    Grammar Note

    You can also ask "When does the market open?" and "When does it close?" separately

11. I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's sales pitch

    Grammar Note

    "I'm browsing" works equally well to gently keep salespeople at bay without being rude

12. Do you accept card?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    "Do you take cards?" works too. You can also ask about "contactless" or "Apple Pay"

13. This is a souvenir for my parents

    Usage

    Telling the seller who the souvenir is intended for

    Grammar Note

    Sharing whom the gift is for often helps the seller recommend the perfect item

14. Can you ship this internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping for items too large to carry

    Grammar Note

    "Abroad" or "overseas" also work. Shipping costs can be steep, so always confirm in advance

15. What's your freshest item today?

    Usage

    Asking which item is freshest at a food market

    Grammar Note

    "Freshest" is the superlative of "fresh". "Best" is general quality; "freshest" focuses on freshness

16. Is this price negotiable?

    Usage

    Directly asking whether the displayed price can be lowered

    Grammar Note

    "Negotiable" means "open to negotiation". Direct but not rude

17. Do you have a smaller size?

    Usage

    Asking whether a smaller size is available

    Grammar Note

    Swap "smaller" for "larger" or "bigger" to ask for a bigger size

18. That's too expensive

    Usage

    Indicating that the offered price is too high to encourage lowering

    Grammar Note

    Soften with "That's a bit too expensive" to avoid sounding blunt

19. Onion

    Usage

    For buying at a market, or for asking that it be left out of a dish

20. Chilli pepper

    Usage

    Spelled "chili" in the US, where "chili" on its own can mean the stew — hence "pepper"

21. Coriander

    Usage

    The leaf; the US calls it "cilantro", while UK "coriander" covers both leaf and seed

22. Ginger

    Usage

    For buying at a market or spice stall

23. Fruit

    Usage

    Uncountable in general use; "fruits" only when counting different kinds

24. Yogurt

    Usage

    Often spelled "yoghurt" in the UK

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