- Enter a shop and communicate what you are looking for
- Ask about sizes (tallas) and find the right fit
- Describe colours and patterns you want
- Use the changing room and talk about trying on (probarse) clothes
- Pay for items and ask about returns and exchanges
- Navigate sales (rebajas) and understand discounts
- Handle basic online shopping vocabulary
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ArticlesElementary
Shopping for Clothes in Spanish (Ir de Compras)
Sizes, trying on, colours, returns, sales, and online shopping - everything you need to shop in Spanish
What You'll Learn
Overview
Shopping for clothes in a Spanish-speaking country is one of those experiences that can be either fun or frustrating - depending on whether you know the right words. From asking for a different size to explaining you want to return something, the vocabulary here is practical and immediately useful.
The Key Shopping Phrases
Browsing
Solo estoy mirando, gracias
I am just looking, thanks
Sizing
¿Tiene una talla más grande?
Do you have a bigger size?
Trying On
¿Puedo probármelo?
Can I try it on?
Whether you are browsing the shops in Madrid, hunting for bargains during las rebajas in Barcelona, or buying souvenirs in Mexico City, this guide covers everything you need to shop with confidence.
Structure & Formation
1. Entering a Shop - Entrar en una Tienda
In many Spanish-speaking countries, shop assistants will greet you and offer help straight away. Here is how to respond - whether you need help or just want to browse.
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ¡Hola! Solo estoy mirando, gracias | Hi! I am just looking, thanks | When you want to browse |
| Busco una camiseta | I'm looking for a T-shirt | When you know what you want |
| ¿Tienen vestidos de verano? | Do you have summer dresses? | Asking about stock |
| ¿Dónde están los pantalones? | Where are the trousers? | Finding a section |
| ¿Me puede ayudar? | Can you help me? | When you need assistance |
| ¿Tienen esto en otro color? | Do you have this in another colour? | Asking for options |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? | How much does this cost? | Asking the price |
2. Sizes - Las Tallas
Clothing sizes in Spain and Latin America can differ from UK/US sizes. The word for clothing size is la talla, while shoe size is el número.
Clothing Sizes
¿Qué talla usa/tiene? What size do you wear?
Soy talla mediana I am a medium
¿Tiene una talla más grande? Do you have a bigger size?
¿Tiene una talla más pequeña? Do you have a smaller size?
Uso la talla 40 I wear size 40
Size Labels
XS - extra pequeña extra small
S - pequeña small
M - mediana medium
L - grande large
XL - extra grande extra large
Shoe Sizes
¿Qué número calza? What shoe size do you wear?
Calzo un 42 I wear a 42
¿Lo tiene en un 38? Do you have it in a 38?
Me queda grande/pequeño It's too big/small on me
Me aprieta un poco It's a bit tight
3. Colours and Patterns - Colores y Estampados
Beyond basic colours, knowing patterns and styles helps you describe exactly what you want. Remember that colour adjectives agree in gender with the clothing item.
de rayas
striped
de cuadros
checked / plaid
de lunares
polka dot
estampado/a
patterned / printed
liso/a
plain / solid
floreado/a
floral
de encaje
lace
de punto
knitted
vaquero/a
denim
de piel / cuero
leather
Agreement reminder: una camiseta roja (a red T-shirt) but un jersey rojo (a red jumper). Colours ending in -e or a consonant do not change: una falda verde, un abrigo azul.
4. Trying On - Probarse la Ropa
Probarse is a reflexive, stem-changing verb (o → ue). It is one of the most important verbs for clothes shopping. The changing room is el probador.
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Puedo probármelo? | Can I try it on? (masc.) | lo = masculine item |
| ¿Puedo probármela? | Can I try it on? (fem.) | la = feminine item |
| ¿Dónde está el probador? | Where is the changing room? | Finding the fitting room |
| Me queda bien | It fits me well | It looks good on me |
| Me queda grande | It's too big on me | Needs a smaller size |
| Me queda pequeño/a | It's too small on me | Needs a bigger size |
| Me queda largo/a | It's too long on me | Length issue |
| Me queda estrecho/a | It's too tight / narrow | Width issue |
| Me queda perfecto/a | It fits perfectly | Just right! |
| No me gusta cómo me queda | I don't like how it looks on me | Polite rejection |
5. Paying - Pagar
At the till (la caja), you will need these phrases for a smooth transaction.
What You Say
Me lo/la llevo
I'll take it
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Can I pay by card?
¿Aceptan efectivo?
Do you accept cash?
¿Me puede dar una bolsa?
Can you give me a bag?
¿Tiene el ticket de regalo?
Do you have a gift receipt?
What You Will Hear
¿Algo más?
Anything else?
¿Cómo va a pagar?
How will you pay?
Son treinta y cinco euros
That's thirty-five euros
¿Quiere una bolsa?
Would you like a bag?
Aquí tiene su ticket
Here is your receipt
6. Returns and Exchanges - Devoluciones y Cambios
Things do not always work out. Here is how to return or exchange items politely.
| Spanish | English | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Quiero devolver esto | I want to return this | General return |
| ¿Puedo cambiarlo por otra talla? | Can I exchange it for another size? | Wrong size |
| Tiene un defecto | It has a defect | Faulty item |
| No me queda bien | It doesn't fit me well | Wrong fit |
| ¿Cuál es la política de devolución? | What is the return policy? | Asking about rules |
| Aquí tiene el ticket | Here is the receipt | Showing proof of purchase |
| ¿Me pueden hacer un reembolso? | Can I get a refund? | Asking for money back |
| ¿Puedo cambiarlo por otro color? | Can I exchange it for another colour? | Colour swap |
7. Sales - Las Rebajas
Spain has two major sales periods: rebajas de invierno (January) and rebajas de verano (July). Latin American countries have their own sales events too. Here is the vocabulary you need to bag a bargain.
Sales Vocabulary
las rebajas the sales
el descuento the discount
un 30% de descuento 30% off
la oferta the offer / deal
2x1 (dos por uno) buy one get one free
la liquidación the clearance sale
precio rebajado reduced price
Useful Phrases
¿Está rebajado?
Is it on sale?
¿Cuánto descuento tiene?
How much discount is there?
¿Hay más ofertas?
Are there more offers?
El precio original era...
The original price was...
Es una ganga
It's a bargain
8. Online Shopping - Compras en Línea
Online shopping is huge across the Spanish-speaking world. These terms appear on every e-commerce site and in delivery notifications.
Website Terms
añadir al carrito add to basket / cart
la cesta / el carrito the basket / cart
tramitar pedido process order / checkout
la dirección de envío the delivery address
los gastos de envío shipping costs
envío gratuito free delivery
la guía de tallas the size guide
Delivery & Tracking
el pedido the order
el número de seguimiento the tracking number
en camino on its way
entregado delivered
el plazo de entrega delivery timeframe
la devolución en línea online return
la etiqueta de devolución the return label
Examples
In a Clothes Shop
Specific request
Busco un vestido negro de talla mediana
I'm looking for a black dress in size medium
Colour request
¿Tienen esta falda en azul?
Do you have this skirt in blue?
Pattern preference
Me gusta este jersey, pero ¿lo tiene en liso?
I like this jumper, but do you have it in plain?
Occasion shopping
Quiero algo más formal para una boda
I want something more formal for a wedding
In the Changing Room
Sizing down
Perdone, me queda un poco grande. ¿Tiene la talla S?
Excuse me, it is a bit big. Do you have size S?
Buying
Este pantalón me queda perfecto, me lo llevo
These trousers fit perfectly, I will take them
Problem
La cremallera está atascada
The zip is stuck
Fitting room rules
¿Puedo probarme tres prendas a la vez?
Can I try on three items at once?
At a Shoe Shop
Type of shoe
Busco unas zapatillas deportivas
I'm looking for trainers / sneakers
Shoe size
¿Las tiene en un 39?
Do you have them in a 39?
Fit issue
Me aprietan un poco del lado izquierdo
They are a bit tight on the left side
Accessories
¿Tienen plantillas?
Do you have insoles?
During the Sales
Checking for discounts
¿Este abrigo está rebajado?
Is this coat on sale?
Comparing prices
Antes costaba ochenta euros y ahora solo cincuenta
It used to cost eighty euros and now only fifty
Return policy
¿Los artículos en rebajas se pueden devolver?
Can sale items be returned?
Buying on sale
¡Qué ganga! Me llevo dos
What a bargain! I will take two
Common Mistakes
Common Shopping Mistakes
Wrong: ¿Puedo probar esto?
Correct: ¿Puedo probarme esto?
"Probarse" is reflexive when trying on clothes. Without "me" it means "to taste" or "to test" - quite different!
Wrong: Quiero el size mediano
Correct: Quiero la talla mediana
Size for clothes is "la talla" (feminine). For shoes, use "el número". Never use the English word "size".
Wrong: Me queda bueno
Correct: Me queda bien
Use "bien" (adverb) not "bueno" (adjective) with "quedar" when talking about fit. "Me queda bien" = it fits well.
Wrong: Quiero retornar esto
Correct: Quiero devolver esto
"Retornar" is not commonly used for returns. Use "devolver" (to return an item) or "cambiar" (to exchange).
Wrong: Esta camiseta es rojo
Correct: Esta camiseta es roja
Colour adjectives must agree in gender. "Camiseta" is feminine, so "rojo" becomes "roja".
"Quedar" - The Essential Shopping Verb
Quedar is used differently when talking about clothes fit vs remaining stock:
Fit: Me queda grande
It is too big on me (how it fits)
Stock: ¿Le quedan más?
Do you have any left? (remaining)
Essential Clothing Vocabulary
la camiseta - T-shirt
la camisa - shirt
el pantalón - trousers
los vaqueros - jeans
la falda - skirt
el vestido - dress
el jersey / el suéter - jumper / sweater
la chaqueta - jacket
el abrigo - coat
los zapatos - shoes
las zapatillas - trainers / sneakers
la bufanda - scarf
el cinturón - belt
la ropa interior - underwear
los calcetines - socks
el bañador - swimsuit
Quick Test
Test your Spanish shopping vocabulary - are you ready to hit the shops?
1. How do you say "I am just looking" in a Spanish shop?
2. What does "¿Puedo probármelo?" mean?
3. You want to ask for a bigger size. Which is correct?
4. "Me queda estrecho" means:
5. How do you say "I want to return this" in Spanish?
6. What does "las rebajas" mean?
7. In an online shop, "añadir al carrito" means:
8. Which sentence correctly uses colour agreement?
9. A shop assistant says "¿Qué talla usa?" What are they asking?
Useful Resources
Coming soon...