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 maneuver.

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 disorganized.

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 organized into long narrow spaces called aisles and aisle is a pathway where customers can browse and select products.

For example, you can find the pasta in aisle four next to the canned vegetables.

Listen to the pronunciation ale.

The A is silent and so is the s so it sounds a lot like the aisle 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 organized by aisles.

Supermarkets are also organized 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 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 four syllables, vegetable or you can say it with three syllables, vegetable, vegetable, vegetable, both of them are fine and are commonly used throughout the UK.

However, it is also common to shorten it to just three letters veg 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 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 yogurt.

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 foods 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 favorite part of the supermarket is the deli counter.

The deli counter is weigh by freshly prepared or sliced meats, cheeses or other delicious products such as olives, salads or fresh sandwiches.

Now, you might notice that deli has quite an unusual spelling, not many words in English and 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 g 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 uncooked meats.

So if you're looking to cook up some rib eyes 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 cooked 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 the 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 check out counter.

Check out counter is the full expression.

But a lot of people will just say check out this is where cashier will scan your items, bag your items and ask for payment.

These are located near the exit and where the customer pays for their shopping.

So we can say the full expression check out counter or we can just say the check out in British English.

We also call the check out counter or the check out the till.

So till is the actual machine that the cashier uses 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 check out.

So I paid at the till and left.

The person who works at the check out counter is called the cashier or the check out 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 check out.

These are tailor or check out counters without employees without cashiers and you have to scan and bag your own items over the last 10 or 20 years, these have become increasingly popular and you will 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 is likely to ask you whether you want a plastic bag.

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 receipt, receipt.

Ok.

So we do not 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 practice, practice, practice.

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 comments 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 and a little bit nerve wracking.

So share your stories.

How did your first shopping in English go?

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Be sure to click on our links here or here to find our vocabulary lessons on travel and eating at the restaurant.

Happy shopping and I'll see you next time.

Bye.