Shopping

1. Сколько это стоит?

   Skol'-ko e-to sto-it?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of an item

   Grammar Note

   "стоить" (to cost) is a very common verb. Russian currency is the ruble (рубль).

2. Можно скидку?

   Mozh-no skid-ku?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Used when negotiating a lower price

   Grammar Note

   An elliptical structure with "можно" + accusative noun. "скидка" (discount) takes accusative "скидку".

3. Я возьму это

   Ya voz'-mu e-to

   I will take this

   Usage

   Used when deciding to purchase an item

   Grammar Note

   Future of perfective "взять" (to take/buy). Used in shopping to say "I'll take/buy this".

4. Есть другие цвета?

   Yest' dru-gi-ye tsve-ta?

   Are there other colors?

   Usage

   Used to ask for different color options

   Grammar Note

   "есть" is the existential verb. Plural of "цвет" (color) is "цвета". Swap with "размеры" (sizes).

5. Дайте, пожалуйста, чек

   Day-te, po-zha-luy-sta, chek

   Please give me a receipt

   Usage

   Used to request a receipt after purchase

   Grammar Note

   "дайте" is the polite imperative of "дать" (to give). "чек" is a loanword from English "check".

6. Есть ли скидки?

   Yest' li skid-ki?

   Are there any discounts?

   Usage

   Asking whether discounts are available

   Grammar Note

   "Скидки" is plural of "скидка" (discount). Russian malls offer "сезонные скидки" (seasonal discounts) and "распродажа" (clearance sales).

7. Могу я примерить?

   Mo-gu ya pri-me-rit'?

   May I try this on?

   Usage

   Asking permission to try on clothing

   Grammar Note

   "Могу" (first person of мочь = can/may) + perfective infinitive for permission requests. Fitting room: "примерочная".

8. У вас есть другой размер?

   U vas yest' dru-goy raz-mer?

   Do you have a different size?

   Usage

   Asking for a different clothing size

   Grammar Note

   "У + genitive + есть" is Russian possession (do you have). "Вас" is genitive of "вы". Russian clothing sizes follow European sizing conventions.

9. Я только смотрю

   Ya tol'-ko smot-ryu

   I am just looking

   Usage

   Responding to a sales clerk that you are browsing

   Grammar Note

   "Смотрю" is imperfective present of "смотреть" (to look). "Just looking" is a universal shopping phrase — this is the Russian version.

10. Упакуйте, пожалуйста

    U-pa-kuy-te, po-zha-luy-sta

    Please wrap it

    Usage

    Asking for the item to be wrapped or packaged

    Grammar Note

    "Упакуйте" is perfective imperative of "упаковать" (to wrap). For gift-wrapping: "В подарок упакуйте, пожалуйста" (please wrap as a gift).

11. Мне не нужен чек

    Mne ne nu-zhen chek

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining a receipt at the till

    Grammar Note

    Same frame as "Мне это не нужно" (I don't need it). The short-form predicate agrees with its subject, so masculine "чек" takes "нужен", not neuter "нужно".

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