SHOPPING - basic Vocabulary

SHOPPING - Basic Vocabulary

Shop – magazin

Shop-window – vitrina

Shop-assistant – vanzator

Shopping – cumpararturi

Shopping-area – zona comerciala

Shopper – cumparator

Department – raion

Department-store – magazin universal

Chain store – filiala a unei firme de magazine

Electrical equipment – aparate electrice

Camera(s) – aparat(e) de fotografiat

Record department – raionul de discuri

China/ porcelain – portelan

Glassware – sticlarie

Pottery – ceramica

Counter – tejghea, raion

Cash-desk – casa (intr-un magazin)

Check-out point – casa (intr-un magazin universal)

Escalator – scara rulanta

Exit – iesire

Self-service – autoservire

Bargain – cumparatura avantajoasa, chilipir

Sale(s) – vanzare (cu reducere de preturi), solduri

Fashion – moda

Trend – curent, directie, tendinta

Gift – cadou

Draper’s – galanterie, textile

Tobacconist’s – tutungerie

Grocer’s – bacanie, alimentara

Greengrocer’s – aprozar, legume si fructe

Backer’s – brutarie, paine

Butcher’s – macelarie

Fishmonger’s – pescarie

Off-licence – local unde se vand bauturi si pentru acasa

Dry-cleaner’s – curatatorie chimica

Toy-shop – magazin de jucarii

Book-shop – librarie

Confectionery / sweet-shop – magazin de dulciuri, cofetarie

Shopkeeper – negustor, comerciant (cu magazin)

Tailor – croitor (pentru barbati)

Dressmaker – croitor de dame, croitoreasa

Hatter – palarier

Milliner – modista

Shoemaker – cizmar, pantofar

Cobbler – cizmar (care face reparatii)

Sports outfitter – furnizor de echipament sportiv

Barber – frizer

Hairdresser – coafor, coafeza

Bookseller – librar

Newsagent – vanzator de ziare (la chiosc)

Ironmonger – negustor de articole de fierarie

Furniture dealer – negustor de mobila

Watchmaker – ceasornicar

Watch repairer – reparatii de ceasuri

Market – piata

Supermarket – magazin universal (de obicei cu autoservire)

Foodstuffs – alimente

Groceries – coloniale

Dairy produce – produse lactate

Tin – cutie de tabla, conserva

Tube – tub

Bottle – sticla

Bag – punga

Dozen – duzina

Jar – borcan

Box – curtie

Household goods/ articles / effects – articole de uz casnic

Hardware department / shop – raion / magazin de articole de uz casnic/ fierarie

Saucepan – cratita

Frying-pan – tigaie

Kettle – ceainic, ibric

Casserole – tigaie (cu toarta), cratita (de argila arsa si smaltuita)

Screw – surub

Door handle – clanta

Gardening tools – unelte de gradinarit

Jewellery – (raionul de) bijuterii

Ring – inel

Ear-ring – cercel

Wedding-ring – verigheta

Bracelet – bratara

Necklace – colier

Cosmetics – (raionul de) cosmetice

Hand cream – crema de maini

Lipstick – ruj

Scent – parfum, mireasma

Perfume – parfum

Varnish – oja, lac de unghii

PROIECT: Absurdul - categorie estetico-literara derivata din cultivarea in fertilele PROIECT: INCEPUTURILE LITERATURII CULTE (primii scriitori „profesionisti”)

Powder –pudra

Eye-shade – fard de ochi

Mascara – rimel

Make-up – fard, machiaj

Haberdashery – mercerie, maruntisuri

Pin – ac de gamalie

Safety-pin – ac de siguranta

Neddle – ac de cusut

Knitting-neddle – andrea

Thread – fir, ata

Tape – panglica (de panza, bumbac)

Stationery – papetarie

Chemist’s – farmacie

Medicine(s) – medicament(e)

Wrapping paper – hartie de ambalaj

Knitted goods – tricotaje

Jumper – tricou

Pull-over – pulover, flanela

Cardigan – jacheta tricotata

Clothes – haine, imbracaminte

Ready-made / ready-to-wear / off-the-peg clothes – haine de gata, confectii

Clothes made-to-measure / made-to-order – haine de comanda

Fitting room – cabina de proba

Garments – imbracaminte, vesminte

Dress – 1. Rochie 2. Imbracaminte

Evening-dress – imbracaminte de seara

Fancy-dress – costum de bal

Gown – rochie (de ocazie), roba

Dressing-gown – halt de casa

Blouse – bluza

Skirt – fusta

Shirt – camasa

Trousers – pantaloni

Jacket – sacou

Dinner-jacket – smoching

Suit – costum

Lounge-suit – haine / costum de strada

Bathing-suit – costum de baie

Beachwrap – halat de plaja

Uniform – uniforma

Anorak – hanorac

Overalls – haina de protectie

Mourning – doliu

Disguise – costum, masca

Bridal veil – val de mireasa

Coat – haina

Winter-coat – palton

Fur-coat – haina de blana

Rain-coat – impermeabil, balonzaid, haina de ploaie

Mackintosh – impermeabil, manta de cauciuc

Scarf – esarfa, basma

Shawl – sal, broboada

Muffler – fular

Gloves – manusi

Mittens – manusi cu un singur deget

Collar – guler

Sleeve – maneca

Cuff – manseta

Braces – bretele

Belt – curea

Socks – sosete

Stockings – ciorapi (lungi)

Tights – ciorap pantalon, dres

Shoes – pantofi

Overshoes – galosi

Boots – cizme

Rubber-boots – cizme de cauciuc

Slippers – papuci de casa

Glasses – ochelari

Sunglasses – ochelari de soare

Bra – sutien

Panties – chiloti de dama

Vest – maiou, flanela de corp

To do one’s shopping – a face cumparaturi

To go shopping – a merge dupa cumparaturi

To sell – a vinde

To buy – a cumpara

To supply – a furniza

To deliver – a livra

To display – a etala

To be out of stock – a nu mai avea (in magazin, depozit)

To try on – a incerca (o haina)

To fit – a se potrivi

To match – a se asorta

To nail (down) – a bate in cuie, a fixa

To follow new fashions – a tine pasul cu moda

Budget Dresses – rochii ieftine

Mother-to-be / mothercare / lady-in-waiting – magazin/ raion Materna

Layette / baby wear – articole pentru nou nascuti

Unisex – articole potrivite pentru ambele sexe

Mantles / coats – haine, paltoane

Earnest money / deposit – acont

Well-stocked – bine aprovizionat

Consumer goods / commodities – bunuri de larg consum

Cashier – casier, casierita

Trolley / basket – cos/ carucior pentru trasportat cumparaturile

Short-weight – lipsa la cantar

Price tag – eticheta cu pretul

Gross weight / net weight – greutate bruto / greutate neto

Shopping list – lista de cumparaturi

Drive-in department store – magazin in care se intra cu masina

Packet/ parcel – pachet

Hire-purchase – plata in rate

Size – masura, marime

Unwrapped/wrapped – neambalat/ambalat

Fixed / firm prices – preturi fixe

What can I do for you? – ce doriti?

Is anyone attending to you? – va serveste cineva?

Are you being served? – sunteti servit?

I’ll attend to you in a moment – va servesc imediat

The goods are put up for  sale – marfurile sunt expuse pentru vanzare

Everything here is sold ready-weighed and ready-packed – aici totul se vinde gata cantarit si gata impachetat

You can place your orders by phone or calling in person – puteti face comenzi prin telefon sau venind personal

I’ll see that the goods are brought by our first delivery – voi avea grija ca marfurile sa fie livrate cu primul transport

Your bill comes/amounts to… - nota Dvs. de plata se ridica la…

At what time does the shop open/close? – la ce ora se deschide/se inchide magazinul?

Can I get here…? – pot gasi aici…?

Show me please… - aratati-mi, va rog…

This… is only for show/ it’s not for sale – acest… este numai pentru decor/ nu este de vanzare

What is the price of this…? – ce pret are…?

Isn’t it rather dear? – nu este cam scump?

Have prices gone up again? – s-au majorat iar preturile?

It is not worth – nu merita, nu face

Show me something different – aratati-mi altceva

Will you give me/ weigh for me/ wrapp it up/ make out the bill? – vreti sa-mi dati…/ sa-mi cantariti…/ sa ambalati asta…/ sa faceti bonul?

Can you send these… to my address? – puteti trimite aceste… la adresa mea?

Need I pay in cash? – trebuie sa platesc in numerar?

I should like to pay by cheque – as vrea sa platesc cu un cec

Have you change for/ can you change this banknote – puteti sa-mi schimbati bacnota aceasta?

I have no (small) change about me – nu am maruntis la mine

Can I exchange this…? – pot sa schimb aceasta…?

What sorts of jam have you got in? – ce gemuri ati primit?

Anything else, Madam? – altceva, doamna?

No, thanks, that’s all/that’ll do – nu, multumesc, asta-i tot

What have I pay to? – cat am de plata?

Do you keep mineral water? – tineti apa minerala?

How much is a bottle of wine? – cat costa o sticla de vin?

Have you got any Romanian wine? – aveti vin romanesc?

I’m afraid it’s sold out – imi pare rau, s-a vandut tot

For the moment we have only… - momentan mai avem doar…

That piece is too fat, I’d like something lean – bucata aceea este prea grasa, as dori una mai slaba

That one will do – aceea e buna

The choice is not too wide today – azi sortimentul nu este prea bogat

Put on the scales half a goose – cantariti jumatate de gasca

What sorts of pies have you got today? – ce sortimente de placinta aveti astazi?

For today’s dinner I need… - pentru masa de azi am nevoie de…

Call at the greengrocer’s and see if there are any grapefruits – treci pe la aprozar si vezi daca au grepuri

The shop next door keeps a wide assortment of fresh vegetables – magazinul de alaturi este bine aprovizionat cu legume

What about these…? – ce spuneti de aceste…?

Are the… sold by the pound or by the piece? – se vand la kilogram sau la bucata?

Will you cut/weigh for me… some ten rashers of bacon? – vreti sa-mi taiati … vreo zece felii de costita?

Let’ drop in at the Victoria department store – sa intram la magazinul Victoria

It saves you many calls – te scuteste de multe drumuri

Is there here… - exista aici …

What can I present a friend with on his wedding day? – ce ii pot darui unui prieten de ziua casatoriei lui?

We have nice things to suit all tastes and purses – avem lucruri care satisfac toate gusturile si pungile

Here is a nice ring – iata un inel dragut

Let me see that gold watch – aratati-mi ceasul acela de aur

Is this brilliant genuine? – briliantul este veritabil?

I decided on  this… - m-am hotarat la acest….

By the way, do you mount precious stones? – apropo, montati pietre pretioase?

EXTRA VOCABULARY

Shops. There are some shops where we buy things to eat and other where we buy things to wear. The tailor, for instance, makes clothes to measure for men, and the dressmaker does the same for women. The hatter sells gentlemen’s hats or cleans old ones; the milliner makes and sells ladies’ hats. The draper sells tights, stockings, socks and underwear. The shoemaker makes and sells shoes and boots, and, if he is a cobbler too, he repairs them. The sports outfitter sells articles used in various sports.

Other shopkeepers supply articles for use. There is, for example, the bookseller, who sells books and magazines; the newsagent, who sells newspapers; the tobacconist, who sells tobacco, cigarettes and cigars; the ironmonger, who sells iron goods or hardware – saucepans, kettles, frying-pan, gardening-tools; the furniture dealer, who supplies articles of furniture. Other important shops are: the stationer’s, the haberdasher’s, the china-shop, the watchmaker’s and the jeweller’s, the chemist’s and the photographer’s.

SHOPPING IN LONDON

Oxford Street is probably the most famous shopping street in London and is divided into two parts, east and west. The busiest section of Oxford Street runs from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch. It is here that most of the major departments stores are grouped, the biggest being Selfridges, the second largest department store in London. The large food hall, restaurants, kitchenware and cosmetics departments are very popular.

The largest branch of the Marks & Spencer chain is also situated near Marble Arch. This open-plan store specializes in ready-to-wear clothes for all the family, food and household effects.

Father along Oxford Street is John Lewis, an excellent shop for household equipment and fabrics.

Oxford Street is also renowned for its vast selection of shoe shops, as well as fashion.

Just outside Oxford Circus Underground station, you will find the Wedgwood pottery shop, world-famous for its fine pottery, porcelain, glass and gifts. A lovely shop in which to browse for gift ideas.

Another famous shopping area is Tottenham Court Road, renowned for its high-class furniture shops and radio and electrical equipment. The largest furniture shop is Heal & Son Ltd.

Others specializing in this field are Habitat, a very popular shop with younger people as it sells ultramodern functional furniture and accessories at everyday prices; and Ryman who specialize in modern office furnishings and equipment.

Tottenham Court Road is also renowned for its hi-fi equipment. Here you will find anything from spare parts to the very latest in stereo and quadraphonic system. Lyon House and Lasky are two largest hi-fi and electrical equipment suppliers.

Another shop specialize, but in a different field, is Paperchase: a delightful shop dealing in beautiful wrapping paper, unique greeting cards, posters and other paper items and a lovely shop in which to browse.

WELCOME TO BLUEWATER

It’s a shrine, the biggest shopping complex in the whole of Europe. It’s got 320 different shops covering 100,000 square metres of retail space in three different interconnected malls. There are 13,000 parking spaces, 1,000 trees, 50,000 daffodils… it’s a shopping experience like you’ve never had before. It is Bluewater, the model for future shopping centres. Built in a former chalk quarry in north-west Kent, Bluewater resembles a moonbase, with glass and steel forming a structure that looks oddly like a vast Gothic cathedral. It opened in March 1999 and is already establishing itself as a model of shopping to come. The centre was built following an intense period of research into what modern shoppers want, and it attempts to satisfy all their demands.

People said they liked natural light – so Bluewater light is filtered in from outside and changed electronically over the day, going from daylight to sunset to a night-time darkness in order to simulate reality.

People like fresh air, so giant rotating ventilation units have been installed in the roofs to keep it circulating.

Feel insecure in public places? Bulewater has its own in-house police station.

Do you have children? The Bluewater Academy is a crèche for up to 200 young children.

There is no more queuing for the toilets. There will always be a luxurious one within 50 metres of where you are shopping.

There are also ample cafes and restaurants. Bluewater boasts that you are never more than 70 paces from a cappuccino. And if you want to avoid the shops altogether there are breakout areas, where you can calm yourself, have a meal or go for a walk by the lake. You can watch performance artists in the Performance Rotunda with its revolving stage, visit the 12-screen Hoyts Cinema or go cycling. Or if the mood takes you, you can even visit Bluewater’s quiet room and talk to the centre’s own chaplain.

From the moment you arrive you know the place is different. The 250 trained hosts have been taught to see you as guests rather than shoppers and treat you accordingly. There’s valet parking, if you want it, and a team of mechanics to help fix a flat battery or tyre for free.

You enter through one of five welcome halls that resemble hotel lobbies. Then there is an information point with concierge desks where you can hire a buggy, a wheelchair, a pram or a locker, as well as somewhere to relax with a cup of coffee on a comfortable sofa.

And then you can start looking at the shops. And even these are different. Bluewater shops are not the kind usually associated with shopping centres. Instead, they are those a consumer might expect to find in the up-market environs of London’s Covent Garden, Bond Street or Kings Road: LK Bennett, Fiorelli, Jaeger, Space NK, RM Williams and Zugi.

And here you are not a shopper anymore, you are a guest. Bluewater needs to attract 30 million guests a year if they are to enjoy success and, judging from the 120,000 who teamed into it on its opening day, they are well on target to achieve it.

Of course, it’s all a clever trick to make you spend more. Throughout the centre there are beautiful sculptures and plants that help you relax. Lines of poetry from Kipling, Keats and Wordsworth are carved into the walls and make the experience seem cultural. It all makes the place look lovely, but it also sends out an effective subliminal message: “Enjoy your shopping experience, and buy, buy, buy”. And it works.

However inviting Bluewater is as a leisure destination, it is almost impossible to visit the place without spending money, and usually a great deal more money than you had intended, too. After all, the research on which the building was constructed wasn’t simply asking people what they liked or disliked about conventional shopping. It was finding out how they could be tempted to spend more.

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS

Where have you been, John? Goodness me, how smart you look! Your hair’s lovely, and what have you done to the rest of your clothes?

Well, I was doing the shopping, as you asked me. I got the leg of lamb from the butcher’s, the bacon and eggs from the grocer’s, the bread and cakes from the baker’s and the beer from the off-licence, when I remembered I’d promised to buy you a bottle of perfume…

So you went to the chemist’s –

That’s right. I got a bottle of perfume, put it in my pocket, and, as the sun was very bright, I thought I’d get a pair of sunglasses as well, only as I left the shop –

You couldn’t see,

And I walked into a man who was delivering ink to the stationer’s.

So you were scared of what I would say, and went to have your trousers cleaned.

That’s right. Well, after I left the dry-cleaner’s, I tripped over –

Because you were too lazy to have the loose sole repaired on your right shoe.

And I broke one of the eggs, which went on my jacket.

So you had to go back to the cleaner’s.

Yes, and then, after I’d left my jacket and the bag of groceries there, I went to the ironmonger’s for that new door-handle we need and a bag of screws – anyway, as I was going out of the door, I tripped again –

And broke –

My watch. But first of all I went to the cobbler’s, and had my sole nailed down, then I took the watch to the watch repairer’s and had a new glass fitted, then I went to the ironmonger’s and by the time I came back, they’d cleaned and pressed my jacket for me.

That was all right then –

Yes, but when I put the things I’d bought from the ironmonger’s into the shopping bag –

You put them on the top of the eggs –

I looked in the bag and took out the two I’d broken, but I was so upset I put my hands to my head –

And you got egg all over your hair –

So I went to the barber’s and had a shampoo.

Well, all’s well that ends well, and you did need smartening up. You bought me some perfume, too – what sort of scent has it got?

Well, smell my right-hand jacket pocket, but don’t put your hand in, because it’s full of broken glass!