Food & drinkIntermediate
At the butcher's in English
Everyday English for at the butcher's. Key line: “Could I get half a kilo of ground pork, please?”
Full script
Lin
Could I get half a kilo of ground pork, please?
Them
Sure—lean or a bit more fatty?
Lin
A little fatty is good; I'm making dumplings tonight.
Them
Nice. Want me to grind it a little coarser?
Lin
Yes, please—my freezer gets dramatic over five hundred grams.
Them
Got it. Anything else, or is your freezer complaining already?
Lin
That's all. If it sulks, I'll make dumplings faster.
Them
Deal—let's keep the dumplings happy and the freezer calm.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
Ordering
✓ Could I get half a kilo of ground pork, please?Polite way to ask for meat
Could I get...? = natural for ordering
Fat level
✓ A little fatty is good.Better with a little fat.
Here, fatty = with more fat
Texture
✓ Want me to grind it a little coarser?Ask if you want it coarser.
coarser = less fine texture
Finish
✓ That's all.No more items.
Common way to finish ordering
Quick answers
Ordering: what to say in English
Say “Could I get half a kilo of ground pork, please?” — polite way to ask for meat. Could I get...? = natural for ordering.
Fat level: what to say in English
Say “A little fatty is good.” — better with a little fat. Here, fatty = with more fat.
Texture: what to say in English
Say “Want me to grind it a little coarser?” — ask if you want it coarser. coarser = less fine texture.
Finish: what to say in English
Say “That's all.” — no more items. Common way to finish ordering.