2025.09.10

Trying on Clothes in a Boutique｜French Shopping Phrases

Izumi

When traveling or shopping, you may find clothes you like in a boutique and need to ask about sizes or request to try them on. Knowing a few basic French expressions will make shopping smoother and more enjoyable.

In this lesson, I will introduce useful French phrases for trying on clothes in a boutique, along with important grammar points.

Contents

Dialogue
Grammar and Expression Points
Summary

Dialogue

Bonjour, je peux essayer cette robe ?
(Hello, may I try on this dress?)

Bien sûr, les cabines d’essayage sont au fond du magasin.
(Of course. The fitting rooms are at the back of the store.)

Est-ce que vous avez cette veste en taille 38 ?
(Do you have this jacket in size 38?)

Oui, un instant, je vais la chercher.
(Yes, one moment, I’ll go get it.)

Est-ce que ça me va bien ?
(Does this look good on me?)

Oui, ça vous va très bien !
(Yes, it looks great on you!)

Grammar and Expression Points

1. Asking to Try Something On

The verb essayer means “to try” or “to try on (clothes).”

Je peux essayer cette robe ?
(May I try on this dress?)

Here, the verb pouvoir (can, may) is used in a question to ask for permission, similar to English “Can I try on this dress?”

For a more polite version, use:

Est-ce que je peux essayer cette veste, s’il vous plaît ?
(May I try on this jacket, please?)

Adding “Est-ce que … ?” and “s’il vous plaît” makes the request more formal and courteous.

2. The Word for Fitting Room

“Fitting room” in French is “cabine d’essayage.” In the plural, it is commonly “les cabines d’essayage.”

Les cabines d’essayage sont au fond du magasin.
(The fitting rooms are at the back of the store.)

The expression “au fond de …” means “at the back of …,” a very useful phrase for shopping or sightseeing situations.

3. Asking About Sizes

In a boutique, you often need to check whether your size is available. “Size” in French is taille.

Est-ce que vous avez cette veste en taille 38 ?
(Do you have this jacket in size 38?)

Other examples:

Est-ce que vous avez ce pantalon en taille 40 ?
(Do you have these pants in size 40?)
Est-ce que vous avez ce modèle en petite taille ?
(Do you have this model in a small size?)

Apart from numbers, you can also use adjectives like petite (small) or grande (large) to indicate size.

Note: taille is used for clothing sizes, while pointure is used for shoe sizes

4. Asking if Something Fits or Suits You

To say “to suit” or “to look good on someone,” French uses the structure “aller à + person.” Although aller normally means “to go,” here it expresses “to suit/fit.”