Clothes and Shopping
What to call what you are wearing, and the phrases that get you through a clothes shop — sizes, fitting rooms, and returns.
Clothes vocabulary plus a handful of shop phrases covers one of the most common real-world situations you will face in English.
The clothes
Upper: shirt, T-shirt, blouse, jumper (US: sweater), jacket, coat Lower: trousers (US: pants), jeans, shorts, skirt, dress Feet: shoes, boots, trainers (US: sneakers), socks Extras: hat, scarf, gloves, belt, tie, bag
Careful: pants means underwear in British English and trousers in American English. Context usually saves you, but it is worth knowing.
More British / American pairs
| British | American |
|---|---|
| trainers | sneakers |
| jumper | sweater |
| waistcoat | vest |
| trousers | pants |
| the queue | the line |
| shop assistant | sales clerk |
Both are understood everywhere; pick one country's set and stay consistent.
Always plural
trousers, jeans, shorts, glasses, tights have no singular. Use a pair of:
I bought a pair of jeans. (not a jean)
These trousers are too big. (not is)
Wear, put on, try on, fit, suit
These five are not interchangeable:
- wear — have it on: She's wearing a blue coat.
- put on — the action of dressing: Put on your shoes.
- try on — test it in a shop: Can I try this on?
- fit — the right size: It doesn't fit — it's too small.
- suit — looks good on you: That colour really suits you.
Fit is about size; suit is about appearance. Mixing them is a classic error.
Two more worth adding: go with (match another item) — Those shoes go with your jacket — and dress up / dress down for the occasion.
Sizes and materials
- small, medium, large — often written S, M, L
- What size are you? — I'm a medium. · I take a 40.
- Shoe and clothing numbers differ by country: Is that UK or European sizing?
- Materials: cotton, wool, leather, denim, silk — a cotton shirt, leather boots
In the shop
- I'm just looking, thanks. (when a shop assistant approaches)
- Do you have this in a medium?
- Have you got these in a size 40?
- Where are the fitting rooms?
- Can I try this on?
- It's too tight / too loose / too long.
- Do you have a bigger one?
- I'll take it.
- Can I pay by card?
Prices and sales
- Is this on sale? · It's reduced. · It's half price.
- That's a bargain. (very good value) · That's a rip-off. (far too expensive)
- It's 20% off. · Is there a discount?
Returning something
- I'd like to return this, please.
- It doesn't fit. / It's faulty.
- Do you have the receipt?
- Can I get a refund or an exchange?
Refund = your money back. Exchange = a different item instead.
"I'm just looking, thanks" is the phrase to learn first. In British and American shops an assistant will approach within a minute, and this is the standard, entirely polite way to decline help. Without it, learners often feel obliged to leave.
Buying a jacket
A: Can I help you at all?
B: I'm just looking, thanks. Actually — have you got this in a large?
A: I'll check. The fitting rooms are just over there.
B: Thanks. Hmm — it fits, but I'm not sure it suits me.
A: It's reduced, if that helps. And you can return it within 30 days with the receipt.
Declining help, asking for a size, fit against suit, and the return policy — one short visit to a shop.
Test yourself
The quiz below covers the five verbs and the shop phrases.