Shopping for clothes in German involves knowing vocabulary for different types of clothing, sizes, colors, and useful phrases for asking about prices or trying items on. Here’s a list of common German words and phrases to help you navigate a clothing store.
Types of Clothing
These are some of the most common German words for different types of clothing:
| German Singular | German Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| das Hemd | die Hemden | shirt (men’s) | shirts (men’s) |
| die Bluse | die Blusen | blouse (women’s) | blouses (women’s) |
| die Hose | die Hosen | pants | pants |
| der Rock | die Röcke | skirt | skirts |
| das Kleid | die Kleider | dress | dresses |
| die Jacke | die Jacken | jacket | jackets |
| der Mantel | die Mäntel | coat | coats |
| der Pullover | die Pullover | sweater | sweaters |
| das T-Shirt | die T-Shirts | T-shirt | T-shirts |
| die Schuhe | — | shoes | — |
Fill in the blank with a plural noun: "Im Schaufenster sind viele _____." (There are many _____ in the shop window.)
Kleider
"Kleider" is the plural of "Kleid" (dress) and fits the plural noun requirement. "Hose" (pants) is singular/plural, but here it would need the plural "Hosen". "Schuhe" means "shoes" (plural), and "Mantel" (coat) would be "Mäntel" in plural.
Sizing
German clothing sizes are usually indicated by numbers (e.g., 36, 38, 40 for women; 48, 50, 52 for men). Here are key words related to sizing:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Größe | size |
| klein | small |
| mittel | medium |
| groß | large |
| zu eng | too tight |
| zu weit | too loose |
Colors
Knowing colors helps you ask for clothes in your preferred shade:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| rot | red |
| blau | blue |
| schwarz | black |
| weiß | white |
| grün | green |
| gelb | yellow |
| grau | gray |
| braun | brown |
| rosa | pink |
| lila | purple |
Choose the correct color: "Die Schuhe sind nicht rot, sie sind _____." (The shoes are not red, they are _____.)
braun
"Braun" means “brown,” a typical shoe color. The other options—yellow, pink, purple—are less common for shoes.
Common Phrases
These phrases will help you communicate with store staff and navigate the shopping experience:
| German Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Wie viel kostet das? | How much does that cost? |
| Haben Sie das in Größe 38? | Do you have this in size 38? |
| Kann ich das anprobieren? | Can I try this on? |
| Wo sind die Umkleidekabinen? | Where are the fitting rooms? |
| Ich nehme das. | I’ll take this. |
| Gibt es das auch in Blau? | Is this also available in blue? |
| Haben Sie etwas Günstigeres? | Do you have something cheaper? |
| Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen? | Can I pay by card? |
| Ist das im Angebot? | Is this on sale? |
| Kann ich das umtauschen? | Can I exchange this? |
Summary
- Types of Clothing: Hemd (shirt), Hose (pants), Kleid (dress), Jacke (jacket), Schuhe (shoes)
- Sizing: Größe (size), klein (small), mittel (medium), groß (large), zu eng (too tight), zu weit (too loose)
- Colors: rot (red), blau (blue), schwarz (black), weiß (white), grün (green)
- Common Phrases: Wie viel kostet das? (How much?), Haben Sie das in Größe 38? (Do you have size 38?), Kann ich das anprobieren? (Can I try this on?)
Flashcards (1 of 36)
- English Singular: shirt (men’s)
- English Plural: shirts (men’s)
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
