Buying and selling.

Buying and selling are activities that are part of our daily lives, and in a world with increasingly present globalization, it is essential that we have knowledge of the vocabulary used in English in these transactions.

Here, the aim is to prepare you at least for negotiation practices both in Brazil and abroad, after all, many online platforms use the language. Therefore, below you will follow all the main terms that we highlight so you can stay up to date on the subject. Let's go?!

Main terms about buying and selling vocabulary.

Price of a product.

To begin with, it is important to know some words related to prices. In English, the price of a product or service is called “price”. Therefore, to say that something is expensive, we can use the expressions “expensive” or “costly”. Meanwhile, to say that something is cheap, we can use the words “cheap” or “inexpensive”.

Availability of a product.

When making a purchase, it is common to ask about the availability of a product. In English, we can use the question “Is it in stock?” to find out if something is in stock. In the meantime, if a product is not available, we may use the expression “out of stock”.


Expressions used in the sales industry.

The customers are placing many orders. Os clientes estão fazendo muitos pedidos.

The salesman is helping a customer. O vendedor está atendendo um cliente.

May I help you, sir?  Posso lhe ajudar?

No, thanks. I’m just looking. Obrigado, estou só dando uma olhada.

Can you gift-wrap this for me, please?  Dá para embrulhar para presente?

It’s all marketing. / It pays to advertise.  Propaganda é a alma do negócio.

The customer is always right.  O cliente sempre tem razão. 

Find common ground.  Encontrar um denominador comum.

It’s up for sale.  Está à venda.       For sale.  Vende-se.

On sale/clearance.  Em liquidação/promoção.       20% off.  20% de desconto

Brand new.   Novinho em folha.      Discontinued.  Fora de linha

It’s a good deal. / It’s a real bargain.   É uma barbada. / É uma pechincha.

I got a good deal.  Fiz uma boa compra.

It’s a rip-off! / I got ripped off!  É um roubo! / Fui roubado! (no sentido de caro)

Bad check / Bounced check / Rubber check.   Cheque sem fundo

Cheque pré-datado = Post-dated check

Post-dated check.   Condições de pagamento.

In installments.   A prazo / Em prestações.

On the installment plan.   No crediário.

As a down payment.   De entrada / Como sinal.

The remaining balance / The balance.   O saldo / O restante

Pay cash.   Pagar à vista, em dinheiro.        Pay in advance.    Pagar adiantado.

At wholesale / At wholesale price.   No atacado / A preço de atacado

At retail.   No varejo.            At retail prices.   Preços de varejo.