How to buy clothes in English
Do you have this in a medium?
“Do you have this in size medium?”
When: Holding an item that is the wrong size, talking to a store worker
The moment
You are in a clothing store in SoHo, New York, holding a blue hoodie you love. You need the right size and color, and you want to try it on before you buy.
A1 · Unit 5 · Shopping
The lines
Asking for your size
Say 'Do you have this in a medium?' and hold up the item. Change 'a medium' to 'a small', 'a large' or 'a size 8'. Staff will check the back for you.
Do you have this in a medium?
“Do you have this in size medium?”
When to use it: Holding an item that is the wrong size, talking to a store worker
What you’ll hear back: Let me check in the back for you.
Trying it on
Say 'Can I try this on?' when you want to wear it before you buy. Staff will show you the fitting room. Sometimes they give you a card with a number.
Can I try this on?
“Can I put this on to see if it fits?”
When to use it: Before you buy clothes, near the fitting rooms
What you’ll hear back: Sure! The fitting rooms are right over there. (Yes, the rooms to try clothes are there.)
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have it in black? | duh-yuh HAV-it in BLAK | Is there the same thing in the color black? |
I like this jacket. Do you have it in black? I like this jacket. Is there a black one? Tip: Staff often ask 'Finding everything okay?' Just say 'Yes, thanks!' | ||
| It fits great. | it FITS GRAYT | It is the right size for me. |
The medium fits great. I'll take it. The medium is the right size. I will buy it. Tip: 'I'll take it' is the normal way to say you will buy it. | ||
| It's a little too small. | its uh LID-ul too SMAWL | It is not big enough for me. |
It's a little too small. Can I try a large? It is not big enough. Can I try a bigger one? Tip: US sizes run bigger than many European and Asian sizes. | ||
Your objective
Ask for it in your size, ask to try it on, and say whether it fits.
- your size
- trying it on
- whether it fits
Lines that get it done
- Do you have this in a medium?
- Can I try this on?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. The shirt is a small, but you need a medium. What do you say?
- Do you have this in a medium?
- Do you have a medium day?
- Is this medium for you?
- Can I have medium this?
Show the answer
Do you have this in a medium?
'Do you have this in a medium?' asks for the same item in another size.
2. You want to wear the pants in the store before you buy them. What do you ask?
- Can I try this on?
- Can I try this out?
- Can I put this away?
- Can I wear this home?
Show the answer
Can I try this on?
'Try on' is for clothes. 'Try out' is for things like a phone or a bike.
3. The worker asks 'How did it fit?' The jacket is perfect. What do you say?
- It fits great.
- It fits too great.
- It's a little too small.
- It doesn't fit me well.
Show the answer
It fits great.
'It fits great' means the size is right for you.