Shopping for clothes vocabulary in French, including common phrases, clothing items, sizes, colors, and payment methods to help you navigate French stores.
Shopping for clothes in French involves learning vocabulary for common phrases, items, sizes, colors, and payment methods. This guide will provide you with essential words and examples to help you confidently shop in a French-speaking environment.
Common Phrases
These are essential phrases you’ll hear or need to use when shopping for clothes in France.
| French Phrase | English Phrase | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je cherche… | I’m looking for… | Je cherche une robe rouge. | I’m looking for a red dress. |
| Avez-vous… ? | Do you have…? | Avez-vous cette chemise en taille M ? | Do you have this shirt in size M? |
| Puis-je l’essayer ? | Can I try it on? | Puis-je l’essayer, s’il vous plaît ? | Can I try it on, please? |
| Où sont les cabines d’essayage ? | Where are the fitting rooms? | Où sont les cabines d’essayage ? | Where are the fitting rooms? |
| Combien ça coûte ? | How much does it cost? | Combien ça coûte, ce pantalon ? | How much does this pair of pants cost? |
| C’est trop cher. | It’s too expensive. | C’est trop cher pour moi. | It’s too expensive for me. |
| Je le/la prends. | I’ll take it. | Je le prends, merci. | I’ll take it, thank you. |
| Puis-je payer par carte ? | Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ? | Can I pay by card? |
| Avez-vous un sac ? | Do you have a bag? | Avez-vous un sac, s’il vous plaît ? | Do you have a bag, please? |
Clothing Items
Here are common clothing items you’ll encounter or ask about in French stores.
| French Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| la chemise / les chemises | shirt / shirts | Je voudrais une chemise blanche. | I would like a white shirt. |
| le pantalon / les pantalons | pants / pants | Ce pantalon est trop long. | These pants are too long. |
| la robe / les robes | dress / dresses | Cette robe est très jolie. | This dress is very pretty. |
| la jupe / les jupes | skirt / skirts | Je porte une jupe bleue. | I am wearing a blue skirt. |
| le pull / les pulls | sweater / sweaters | Il fait froid, je mets un pull. | It’s cold, I’m wearing a sweater. |
| la veste / les vestes | jacket / jackets | J’ai acheté une nouvelle veste. | I bought a new jacket. |
| les chaussures | shoes (pl.) | Ces chaussures sont confortables. | These shoes are comfortable. |
| le t-shirt / les t-shirts | t-shirt / t-shirts | J’ai un t-shirt noir. | I have a black t-shirt. |
| le manteau / les manteaux | coat / coats | Je mets un manteau en hiver. | I wear a coat in winter. |
| le chapeau / les chapeaux | hat / hats | Il porte un chapeau élégant. | He is wearing an elegant hat. |
Je porte une jupe ___.
I am wearing a blue skirt.
bleue
'Jupe' (skirt) is feminine, so the adjective 'bleue' (blue) must also be feminine. 'Je porte une jupe bleue.' means 'I am wearing a blue skirt.'.
Sizes
Understanding sizes in French stores is crucial for finding the right fit.
| French Term | English Term | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS / S / M / L / XL | XS / S / M / L / XL | Je prends la taille M. | I take size M. |
| taille (f.) | size | Quelle est votre taille ? | What is your size? |
| taille 36 / 38 / | size 36 / 38 / | Je fais du 38. | I wear size 38. |
| trop grand(e) | too big | Ce t-shirt est trop grand. | This t-shirt is too big. |
| trop petit(e) | too small | La robe est trop petite. | The dress is too small. |
| ça me va | it fits me | Cette jupe me va bien. | This skirt fits me well. |
| je chausse du… | I wear size… (shoes) | Je chausse du 40. | I wear size 40 (shoes). |
Colors
Now you can describe clothing by color when shopping in French.
| French Color | English Color | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| blanc / blanche | white | Je veux une chemise blanche. | I want a white shirt. |
| noir / noire | black | Ce pantalon est noir. | These pants are black. |
| rouge | red | Cette robe est rouge. | This dress is red. |
| bleu / bleue | blue | J’ai une jupe bleue. | I have a blue skirt. |
| vert / verte | green | Il porte une veste verte. | He is wearing a green jacket. |
| jaune | yellow | Ce t-shirt est jaune. | This t-shirt is yellow. |
| gris / grise | gray | J’aime ce pull gris. | I like this gray sweater. |
| rose | pink | Elle porte une robe rose. | She is wearing a pink dress. |
| marron | brown | J’ai des chaussures marron. | I have brown shoes. |
| orange | orange | Cette écharpe est orange. | This scarf is orange. |
Payment Methods
Finally, here are some vocabulary words for paying and completing your purchase.
| French Term | English Term | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| payer | to pay | Je voudrais payer, s’il vous plaît. | I would like to pay, please. |
| espèces (f. pl.) | cash | Je paie en espèces. | I’m paying in cash. |
| carte bancaire | bank card | Je paie par carte bancaire. | I’m paying by bank card. |
| terminal de paiement | payment terminal | Passez votre carte ici. | Tap your card here. |
| ticket de caisse | receipt | Puis-je avoir un ticket de caisse ? | Can I have a receipt? |
| carte cadeau | gift card | J’ai une carte cadeau. | I have a gift card. |
| remboursement | refund | Peut-on avoir un remboursement ? | Can we have a refund? |
| échange | exchange | Je voudrais faire un échange. | I would like to make an exchange. |
| sac | bag | Avez-vous un sac, s’il vous plaît ? | Do you have a bag, please? |
With these vocabulary lists, you’re well-equipped to shop for clothes in French with confidence!
Je voudrais ___, s’il vous plaît.
I would like to pay, please.
payer
'Payer' means 'to pay'. The sentence 'Je voudrais payer, s’il vous plaît.' means 'I would like to pay, please.'.
Flashcards (1 of 45)
- English Phrase: I’m looking for…
- English Example: I’m looking for a red dress.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
