#250 Asking About Shoe Fit｜French Shopping Phrases

When you try on a new pair of shoes, it is not uncommon to feel that they are slightly tight or uncomfortable when walking.

Rather than making a decision on your own, I recommend discussing these subtle fit issues with the store staff and adjusting accordingly.

In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for asking about shoe fit, based on a typical shopping conversation, along with key grammatical points.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour, je cherche une paire de chaussures, mais je ne suis pas sûr de la taille.
（Hello, I am looking for a pair of shoes, but I am not sure about the size.）

B

Bien sûr. Vous avez déjà essayé ce modèle ?
（Of course. Have you already tried this model?）

A

Oui, mais elles sont un peu serrées.
（Yes, but they are a bit tight.）

B

Dans ce cas, je vous conseille une taille au-dessus.
（In that case, I recommend a size up.）

A

D’accord, je vais essayer.
（All right, I will try that.）

1. Saying That You Are Looking for Shoes

First, you need to tell the store staff that you are looking for shoes and that you are unsure about the size.

The verb “chercher” means “to look for” and is used in the form “chercher + noun” to express what you are searching for.

In this sentence, “une paire de chaussures” means “a pair of shoes.” In French, shoes are considered as a pair, so this expression is commonly used when shopping.

The phrase “je ne suis pas sûr de la taille” literally means “I am not sure about the size,” but in conversation, it conveys the nuance of being uncertain or unsure.

Grammatically, this comes from negating “être sûr de” (to be sure of), forming “ne pas être sûr de” (to not be sure of something). This allows you to express uncertainty in a soft and natural way.

2. Describing Fit Issues

After trying on the shoes, you should describe the fit clearly—for example, whether they feel tight, loose, or uncomfortable.

The subject “elles” refers to “chaussures” (shoes), which is feminine plural in French. Therefore, the pronoun must also be feminine plural.

The adjective “serré” means “tight,” and French adjectives change form depending on gender and number:

Since “chaussures” is feminine plural, the correct form is “serrées.”

The phrase “un peu” means “a little” and helps soften the statement.

If you say “Elles sont serrées,” it sounds quite direct (“They are tight”), whereas adding “un peu” makes it more polite and nuanced (“They are a bit tight”).

3. Receiving Suggestions from the Staff

When the store staff suggests a different size or model, you will often hear expressions like the following:

The verb “conseiller” means “to advise” or “to recommend.”

Here, “vous” functions as an indirect object (“to you”) and is used in a polite form when staff speak to customers.

The phrase “une taille au-dessus” means “one size larger.” Although “au-dessus” literally means “above,” in this context it refers to a larger size.

While “taille” refers to size in general (including clothing), “pointure” is more specifically used for shoe sizes.

Summary