Tailor & Alterations
Use these phrases to navigate a visit to a tailor, from explaining exactly how clothes need to be adjusted to asking for a fitting, price, and pick-up date.
Key Phrases
Buenos días, ¿podrían hacerme un arreglo en esta prenda, por favor?
politeGood morning, could you do an alteration on this garment, please?
A polite, slightly formal way to ask for general alterations at a new shop.
Hola, necesito que me arreglen este traje porque ya no me queda bien.
neutralHi, I need you to alter this suit because it doesn't fit me well anymore.
Neutral and direct; the present subjunctive "que me arreglen" is required here.
Me gustaría acortar las mangas de esta chaqueta, me quedan un poco largas.
neutralI would like to shorten the sleeves of this jacket, they are a bit long on me.
A very standard way to talk about reducing the length of sleeves or trousers.
¿Me puedes coger el bajo de estos pantalones un par de centímetros?
casualCan you take up the hem of these trousers a couple of centimeters?
"Coger el bajo" is the most common phrase for hemming in Spain.
Necesito meterle a este vestido de la cintura porque me queda bastante grande.
neutralI need to take this dress in at the waist because it's quite big on me.
"Meterle a" is the everyday verb used when an item of clothing needs to be taken in or tightened.
Esta camisa me hace bolsas, ¿me la puedes entallar un poco?
casualThis shirt bags on me, can you take it in a bit?
"Entallar" means to take in or taper a garment to fit the body's shape.
¿Es posible sacarle un poco a estos pantalones? Me aprietan demasiado.
neutralIs it possible to let these trousers out a bit? They are too tight on me.
"Sacarle a" is the opposite of "meterle a" and is used when you need clothing let out.
¿Me lo puedo probar aquí para que vean cuánto hay que ajustar?
neutralCan I try it on here so you can see how much needs to be adjusted?
Uses the present subjunctive ("vean") after the trigger "para que".
¿Me lo pongo ahora para que me pongas los alfileres y veas la medida?
casualShould I put it on now so you can put the pins in and see the measurement?
Very casual and natural when speaking directly to the person doing the work.
¿Me podría indicar qué día puedo pasar por la tienda a recogerlo?
politeCould you let me know what day I can stop by the store to pick it up?
A polite way to wrap up the transaction and confirm the timeline.
¿Cuánto tiempo tardarán en tener terminado el arreglo?
neutralHow long will it take to have the alteration finished?
Neutral and direct; good for asking about expected turnaround times.
¿Para cuándo crees que lo tendrías listo?
casualWhen do you think you would have it ready?
Uses the conditional ("tendrías") as a softer, more casual way to ask for an estimate.
¿Me pueden dar un presupuesto aproximado de cuánto costaría esto?
neutralCan you give me an approximate estimate of how much this would cost?
Useful if you want to know the price before committing to the service.
¿Por cuánto me sale cogerle el bajo a los vaqueros?
casualHow much will it run me to take up the hem on the jeans?
"Por cuánto me sale" is a very common, casual way to ask "how much does it cost me".
Vengo a recoger un abrigo que dejé la semana pasada para arreglar.
neutralI've come to pick up a coat that I left last week to be altered.
A standard phrase to use when returning with your receipt to collect your clothes.