Buying Shoes
These phrases will help you state your size, try on shoes, and discuss the fit with the staff in a French shoe store.
Key Phrases
Je peux essayer ces chaussures ?
casualCan I try these shoes on?
Common and direct, used with a friendly tone.
Est-ce que je peux essayer ces chaussures ?
politeMay I try these shoes on?
Adding 'Est-ce que' makes the request softer and more polite.
Je fais du trente-huit.
neutralI am a size thirty-eight.
Use 'faire du' to state your size for shoes and clothing.
C'est trop serré.
casualIt's too tight.
Spoken French often uses 'C'est' instead of 'Elles sont' to describe a general feeling.
Elles sont un peu petites.
neutralThey are a little small.
Vous avez la taille au-dessus ?
casualDo you have the next size up?
'Taille' generally means clothing size, but is widely used for shoes in everyday speech.
Vous avez une pointure plus grande ?
politeDo you have a larger shoe size?
'Pointure' is the specific and correct word for shoe size.
C'est trop grand.
neutralIt's too big.
Vous avez ça en noir ?
neutralDo you have this in black?
Elles sont très confortables.
neutralThey are very comfortable.
Je vais les prendre, s'il vous plaît.
neutralI will take them, please.
Uses the near future to announce your purchase decision.