How to buy clothes in French
Vous l'avez en 38 ?
“Do you have it in a 38?”
When: When the size or colour on the rack is wrong
The moment
You are in a small clothes shop in the Marais and you have found a jumper you like, but not in your size. You want to see it in another colour and try it on before you buy.
A1 · Unit 5 · Shopping
The lines
Asking for another size or colour
One sentence covers both: « Vous l'avez en 38 ? » means do you have it in a 38? Change only the last word for a colour: en noir, en bleu, en rouge.
Vous l'avez en 38 ?
“Do you have it in a 38?”
When to use it: When the size or colour on the rack is wrong
What you’ll hear back: Je vais voir en réserve. (I'll go check in the stockroom.)
Asking to try it on
« Je peux l'essayer ? » is can I try it on. Say it while holding the item up, and the assistant will send you to the cabines, the fitting rooms.
Je peux l'essayer ?
“Can I try it on?”
When to use it: Before you commit to buying anything
What you’ll hear back: Bien sûr, les cabines sont au fond. (Of course, the fitting rooms are at the back.)
Words for this scene
| French | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je fais du 40 | zhuh feh dew kah-RAHNT | I'm a size 40 |
Je fais du 40, vous l'avez ? I'm a size 40, do you have it? Tip: French sizes run high: a UK 12 is roughly a 40. | ||
| C'est trop petit | seh troh puh-TEE | It's too small |
C'est trop petit, vous avez la taille au-dessus ? It's too small, do you have the next size up? Tip: Swap in trop grand or trop court: same sentence, new problem. | ||
| Ça me va bien | sah muh vah BYAN | It fits me well |
Ça me va bien, je le prends. It fits me well, I'll take it. Tip: Follow it with « je le prends » to close the sale. | ||
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
- Vous l'avez en 38 ?
- Je peux l'essayer ?
- Ça me va bien, je le prends. · It fits me well, I'll take it.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You like the jacket but you want to see it in black. What do you ask?
- Vous l'avez en noir ?
- Vous êtes en noir ?
- C'est du noir ?
- Le noir, c'est où ?
Show the answer
Vous l'avez en noir ?
« Vous l'avez en... » asks whether they have the item in that size or colour.
2. You are holding a shirt and want to go to the fitting room. What do you say?
- Je peux l'essayer ?
- Je peux le payer ?
- Je peux l'acheter ?
- Je peux le voir ?
Show the answer
Je peux l'essayer ?
« Je peux l'essayer ? » is the standard way to ask to try something on.
3. The trousers are tight and you cannot close them. What do you tell the assistant?
- C'est trop petit
- C'est trop cher
- C'est trop tard
- C'est très joli
Show the answer
C'est trop petit
« C'est trop petit » says the item is too small, so they can bring the next size.