Master English Numbers for US Shopping: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide (Even If You’re Just Starting!)
🛒 Master English Numbers for US Shopping: The Ultimate Guide for New Learners (Even If You’re Just Starting!)
Stop Feeling Lost at the Checkout — Learn How to Count, Ask Prices, and Pay Like a Local
“I know the words… but when I hear ‘six dollars and thirty-seven cents,’ my brain freezes.”
— Maria, from Colombia, living in Texas
If you’ve ever stood in line at a Walmart, Target, or corner store in the U.S., stared at a price tag, and felt your heart race because you weren’t sure if you had enough cash…
You’re not alone.
And guess what?
This isn’t about being “bad at English.”
It’s about missing one critical skill: practical number fluency in everyday shopping situations.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:
- ✅ How to say and understand numbers 1–100+ in American English
- ✅ The exact phrases used by cashiers and customers
- ✅ How to handle prices with cents (like $4.99) without panic
- ✅ Real-life dialogues you’ll hear at supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations
- ✅ Common mistakes to avoid (and how to fix them instantly)
- ✅ Free tools, videos, and practice drills to build confidence FAST
Whether you’re new to the U.S., studying English online, or just nervous about buying groceries — this is your roadmap to shopping independence.
Let’s begin.
❓ Why Do So Many ESL Learners Struggle With Numbers in Stores?
You’ve memorized “one, two, three.”
You can count to ten on your fingers.
But then you walk into a CVS or Whole Foods…
- 👉 A sign says: “Apples: $1.29 per pound.”
- 👉 A cashier asks: “That’ll be eight seventy-two.”
- 👉 You hand over a $10 bill… and freeze.
Why does this happen?
🔍 The Hidden Problem: It’s Not the Numbers — It’s the Delivery
Most English textbooks teach numbers like this:
One, two, three, four, five…
Ten, twenty, thirty…
One hundred.
But real Americans don’t speak like that in stores.
They say:
- “One twenty-nine” → not “one dollar and twenty-nine cents”
- “Eight seventy-two” → not “eight dollars and seventy-two cents”
- “Two bucks” → instead of “two dollars”
And when they say it fast?
It sounds like:
“Wanna get these?”
“Yeah. That’s gonna be one fifty.”
“Here ya go.”
Your brain hears: “Wan-nuh-get-these? Tha-tiz-gonna-be-wun-fif-tee?”
…and shuts down.
This is called “listening fatigue.”
It happens when your brain knows the words… but can’t decode them in real time.
The good news?
- ✅ You don’t need perfect grammar to shop successfully.
- ✅ You only need 15 key phrases and 3 core skills.
Let’s fix this — step by step.
🧮 PART 1: Mastering Numbers 1–100 — The Only Ones You Need for Shopping
You don’t need to count to a thousand.
You don’t need to know “seventy-three” for rocket science.
For shopping in the U.S., you only need to be fluent with numbers from 1 to 100 — and understand how prices are spoken.
Let’s break it down.
✅ Step 1: Learn These 20 Numbers First (The Core)
| Number | Spoken Like This | Written As |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | one | $1 |
| 2 | two | $2 |
| 3 | three | $3 |
| 4 | four | $4 |
| 5 | five | $5 |
| 6 | six | $6 |
| 7 | seven | $7 |
| 8 | eight | $8 |
| 9 | nine | $9 |
| 10 | ten | $10 |
| 11 | eleven | $11 |
| 12 | twelve | $12 |
| 13 | thirteen | $13 |
| 15 | fifteen | $15 |
| 18 | eighteen | $18 |
| 20 | twenty | $20 |
| 25 | twenty-five | $25 |
| 30 | thirty | $30 |
| 40 | forty | $40 |
| 50 | fifty | $50 |
💡 Pro Tip: Memorize these using flashcards. Use free apps like Anki or Quizlet. Search “US Shopping Numbers Flashcards” — there are dozens made by ESL teachers.
✅ Step 2: Learn the Teens (11–19) — They Don’t Follow Rules!
Most numbers follow patterns:
- Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three…
But teens?
They’re wildcards.
| Number | Say It Right | Avoid This Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | thirteen | ❌ “threeteen” |
| 14 | fourteen | ❌ “fourteen” (say it clearly!) |
| 15 | fifteen | ❌ “fiveteen” |
| 16 | sixteen | ❌ “siksteen” |
| 17 | seventeen | ❌ “seventeem” |
| 18 | eighteen | ❌ “ateen” |
| 19 | nineteen | ❌ “nintein” |
🎧 Listen & Repeat Drill:
Play this audio clip: YouTube: “English Numbers 11–19 Pronunciation”
Pause after each word. Say it aloud. Record yourself. Compare.
✅ Step 3: Learn the Tens (20, 30, 40…)
These are easy — once you know the pattern.
| Number | Say It | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | twenty | “twen-tee” |
| 30 | thirty | “thur-tee” (not “thir-tee”) |
| 40 | forty | “for-tee” (no “u” — NOT “fourty”) |
| 50 | fifty | “fif-tee” |
| 60 | sixty | “siks-tee” |
| 70 | seventy | “sep-tee” |
| 80 | eighty | “ay-tee” |
| 90 | ninety | “nin-tee” |
| 100 | one hundred | “wun hun-dred” |
⚠️ Common Mistake Alert:
People often say “fourty” instead of “forty.”
There is no “u” in “forty.”
Remember: F-O-R-T-Y → Think: “Four” loses the “u” when it becomes “forty.”
📝 Memory Hack:
“Forty has fewer letters than ‘four’ — so it lost the ‘u’!”
✅ Step 4: Combine Tens + Units (21–99)
Now you can say anything!
| Number | Say It | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | twenty-one | twenty + one |
| 27 | twenty-seven | twenty + seven |
| 34 | thirty-four | thirty + four |
| 48 | forty-eight | forty + eight |
| 59 | fifty-nine | fifty + nine |
| 63 | sixty-three | sixty + three |
| 76 | seventy-six | seventy + six |
| 82 | eighty-two | eighty + two |
| 99 | ninety-nine | ninety + nine |
✅ Practice Rule: Always use a hyphen between tens and ones:
- ✔️ “twenty-one”
- ❌ “twenty one”
💬 Real-Life Example:
You buy socks for $24.
Cashier: “That’s twenty-four dollars.”
You: “Here’s twenty-five.”
Cashier: “Here’s your change — one dollar.”
See? You didn’t need to know “twenty-four point zero zero.”
You just needed to say “twenty-four.”
💸 PART 2: Understanding Prices — The Secret Language of $4.99
Now here’s where most learners get stuck.
You see a price tag:
$4.99
What do you say?
❌ “Four dollars and ninety-nine cents” → Too long. No one says this.
✅ “Four ninety-nine.”
That’s it.
🤯 The Magic Rule: Americans Drop “Dollars and Cents”
In stores, restaurants, gas stations — everywhere — people say:
| Price | What You Hear | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| $1.99 | “One ninety-nine” | One dollar, ninety-nine cents |
| $5.50 | “Five fifty” | Five dollars, fifty cents |
| $10.00 | “Ten bucks” or “ten dollars” | Ten dollars exactly |
| $19.99 | “Nineteen ninety-nine” | Nineteen dollars, ninety-nine cents |
| $25.75 | “Twenty-five seventy-five” | Twenty-five dollars, seventy-five cents |
| $0.99 | “Ninety-nine” | Ninety-nine cents (no “dollars”) |
| $0.50 | “Fifty cents” | Only one that keeps “cents” |
📌 Key Insight:
When the amount is under $1, they say “___ cents.”
When it’s over $1, they drop “dollars and cents” completely.
🔁 Practice This 3-Step Process
- Look at the price: $7.49
- Say it in chunks: Seven… forty-nine
- Say it out loud: “Seven forty-nine”
Do this 10 times today.
Try it while scrolling through Amazon or Walmart’s website.
💡 Free Tool: Go to Walmart.com, pick any product, read the price aloud.
Example:
- Headphones: $29.99 → “Twenty-nine ninety-nine!”
- Milk: $3.49 → “Three forty-nine!”
You’re building muscle memory — not just vocabulary.
🚫 Avoid These 3 Costly Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It’s Bad | Correct Version |
|---|---|---|
| Saying “point” | “Four point nine nine” → Sounds robotic, foreign | “Four ninety-nine” |
| Saying “dollar” every time | “One dollar ninety-nine cents” → Too slow | Just “one ninety-nine” |
| Mispronouncing “ninety” as “ninty” | Makes you sound unsure | “Nin-tee” — stress the “ni” |
🎯 Pro Tip: Record yourself saying:
- “Six ninety-nine”
- “Twelve fifty”
- “Thirty-eight seventy-five”
Then play it back. Does it sound natural? If not, try again.
🗣️ PART 3: Real Conversations You’ll Hear at the Store (With Scripts!)
Knowing numbers isn’t enough.
You need to know what to say — and how to respond.
Let’s walk through 5 real-life scenarios you’ll face — with exact dialogues, body language cues, and how to reply.
🛒 Scenario 1: Asking “How Much?”
Situation: You pick up a bag of oranges. You don’t see a price tag.
- 👉 You: “Excuse me… how much are these?”
- 👉 Cashier: “Those are two ninety-nine a pound.”
- 👉 You: “Okay, I’ll take two pounds.”
- 👉 Cashier: “That’ll be five ninety-eight.”
✅ You Must Learn This Phrase:
“How much are these?”
Not: “What is the price?” (too formal)
Not: “Cost?” (too short, sounds rude)
💡 Bonus Phrases:
- “How much for this?” → For one item
- “Is this on sale?” → To check discounts
- “Can I get this?” → Before handing over money
🎧 Listen: Try this YouTube video: “Real US Grocery Store Conversation” — pause and shadow (repeat after).
💰 Scenario 2: Paying With Cash
Situation: Your total is $8.75. You have a $10 bill.
- 👉 You: “Here’s ten dollars.”
- 👉 Cashier: “That’ll be eight seventy-five. Here’s one twenty-five.”
- 👉 You: “Thank you!”
Notice something?
The cashier doesn’t say:
“You gave me ten dollars. Your total was eight seventy-five. So your change is one dollar and twenty-five cents.”
Nope.
They say:
“That’ll be eight seventy-five. Here’s one twenty-five.”
That’s the rhythm.
Practice this script:
| Role | What to Say |
|---|---|
| You | “Here’s ten dollars.” |
| Cashier | “That’ll be six forty-nine. Here’s three fifty-one.” |
| You | “Thanks!” |
🔁 Repeat this 5 times today — even in your head.
💡 Want to practice change?
Use this free tool: Change Calculator for ESL Learners — Play “Shopping Game” until you can give correct change without thinking.
🧾 Scenario 3: Handling Receipts & Small Change
Sometimes, you’ll get coins back.
- 👉 Cashier: “Here’s your change — one dollar and thirty-seven cents.”
- 👉 You look confused.
Don’t panic.
Break it down:
- 1 dollar = 1 coin (silver dollar or paper)
- 37 cents = 1 quarter (25¢) + 1 dime (10¢) + 2 pennies (2¢)
But here’s the truth:
Most Americans just grab the coins and go.
You don’t need to count them unless you’re suspicious.
Just say:
“Thank you!” and smile.
✅ When to Care About Change:
- If you think you were shortchanged
- If you paid with a $20 and got back $10 → ask politely:
“Excuse me, I paid with twenty. Is this all?”
🛍️ Scenario 4: Buying Multiple Items
You grab:
- Bread → $2.99
- Eggs → $3.49
- Milk → $4.29
Total = $10.77
Cashier scans everything → says:
“That’ll be ten seventy-seven.”
You hand over a $20 bill.
Cashier: “Here’s nine twenty-three.”
You think:
“Wait… 20 minus 10.77 is 9.23? Did she do that right?”
Yes.
And here’s the secret:
You don’t need to calculate it.
Trust the machine.
Just say: “Thank you.”
If you want to double-check later?
Use your phone calculator.
💡 Pro Tip: Download “Money Math for ESL” app — it simulates checkout totals. Practice daily for 5 minutes.
🆘 Scenario 5: What If You Don’t Have Enough Money?
Happens to everyone.
You pick up a $12.50 shirt.
You only have $10.
Don’t panic.
Here’s what to say:
- 👉 “Oh, I’m sorry. I only have ten dollars. Can I put this back?”
- Or: “Do you have a smaller size?”
- Or: “Can I pay with card instead?”
Americans are kind.
They won’t judge you.
- ✅ Always stay polite.
- ✅ Smile.
- ✅ Say “sorry” or “excuse me.”
That’s all it takes.
🧠 PART 4: 7 Brain Hacks to Remember Numbers Instantly
You’ve heard “practice makes perfect.”
But what if you’re tired? Stressed? In a hurry?
Here are 7 neuroscience-backed tricks to make numbers stick — even under pressure.
✅ Hack #1: Use Rhythm & Rhyme
Say numbers like a song.
🎵
One, two, buckle my shoe
Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big fat hen
Use this nursery rhyme to remember 1–10.
Sing it while brushing your teeth.
✅ Hack #2: Associate Numbers With Objects
Create mental images:
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