Your first weeks in France are a string of small delights and quick puzzles. The boulanger [baker] remembers your order. The marchand [market stallholder] slips you a fig “pour goûter.” Then a bell rings as you step into a shop in Paris, Nice, Lyon, or a quiet village in the Dordogne.
La vendeuse [saleswoman] smiles:
“Bonjour madame, je peux vous aider ?”
(Good morning, madam, may I help you?)
You point to a linen jacket. The tag says 42. In your head, you’re a 10. She asks, gentle and direct:
“Quelle taille faites-vous ?”
(What size are you?)
You pause. Ten? Medium? That’s the moment you realize your wardrobe needs translation too. Fahrenheit to Celsius. Miles to kilometers. French clothing sizes to US.
The good news: once you know the code, shopping is a pleasure. You’ll say “Je fais du 38” (I’m a size 38), and la vendeuse will bring the right fit with a smile. And maybe—like Christy from California that I once interviewed—you’ll trade Costco chic for something quieter, better cut, more you.
A Short History: How Clothing Sizes Got So Confusing
In 1958, the U.S. published Commercial Standard CS-215-58 after measuring about 15,000 women in order to standardize clothing sizes with categories like Misses, Petite, and regular height. Over time the standard became voluntary, vanity sizing crept in, and by 1983 it was withdrawn. Meanwhile, Europe (including France) moved toward size systems based on body measurements in centimeters. EN 13402 laid foundations, and more recent standards define how measurements like bust, waist, and height should be used to label garments more accurately.
Difference Between “Petite” in English & Its Use in France
In U.S. fashion, petite means clothing made for women about 5′4″ (163 cm) or shorter. It refers to height and proportions—not shape. Petite garments adjust sleeve length, inseams, waist height, etc., so a petite person can be full-figured or curvy while still being petite in height.
In France, however, separate petite fit lines are rare. Most brands don’t label clothes petite, and cuts usually follow standard numeric sizing (bust/waist/hips + height in cm), without dedicated petites. People often choose cuts that match their body or get tailoring rather than relying on petite-labeled collections.
Examples using “petite” in context:
| French sentence | Pronunciation hint | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| “Je cherche un pantalon en taille S, pas trop petit.” | zhuh sher-sh uh pan-tal-on on tay-yuh ess, pah troh puh-tee | “I’m looking for pants in size S, not too small.” |
| “Cette veste est trop petite pour moi, avez-vous la taille au-dessus ?” | set vest eh troh puh-teet poor mwah, ah-vay voo lah tay-yoh-dessu | “This jacket is too small for me, do you have the next size up?” |
| “Je suis petite, est-ce que vous avez ce modèle plus court ?” | zhuh swee puh-teet, ess-kuh voo zah-vay suh mo-del plu koor | “I’m petite (short), do you have this style in a shorter cut?” |
French Size to US Clothing: Conversion Guide
Once you’ve sorted the confusion around petite, it’s time for the numbers that matter. French clothing sizes are based on centimètres (centimeters), not “0–2–4–6” labels. That’s why un 38 (a 38) in France equals a US 6, not a 38.
You’ll hear la vendeuse (the saleswoman) ask: “Quelle taille faites-vous ?” (What size are you?). That’s when this chart becomes your best friend:
Les vêtements des femmes – Women’s Clothing
| French Size | US Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 2 | very small |
| 36 | 4 | small |
| 38 | 6 | medium |
| 40 | 8 | medium-large |
| 42 | 10 | large |
| 44 | 12 | XL |
| 46 | 14 | XXL |
| 48 | 16 | plus size |
Les vêtements des hommes – Men’s Clothing
| French Size | US Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 34 | small |
| 46 | 36 | small-medium |
| 48 | 38 | medium |
| 50 | 40 | medium-large |
| 52 | 42 | large |
| 54 | 44 | XL |
| 56 | 46 | XXL |
Clothing Vocabulary (Les vêtements)
| French word | Pronunciation hint | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| une taille | oon tie | size |
| la coupe | lah koop | cut / fit |
| un pantalon | uhn pan-ta-lon | pants |
| une robe | oon rob | dress |
| une chemise | oon shuh-meez | shirt |
| un manteau | uhn man-toh | coat |
| un pull | uhn peul | sweater |
| une jupe | oon zhoop | skirt |
| la cabine d’essayage | lah ka-been dess-ay-ahzh | fitting room |
French Shoe Sizes vs US Shoe Sizes
Clothes are only half the story. Les chaussures (shoes) follow a different system. France uses the point de Paris (Paris point), a unit of two-thirds of a centimeter. That’s why a US women’s 8 usually equals a French 39.
La vendeuse (saleswoman) will often ask: “Quelle pointure faites-vous ?” (What shoe size are you?).
The tricky part? French stores rarely stock half sizes. If you normally wear an American 8.5, you’ll likely be deciding between a 39 and 40, and this is when the magic words come in handy: “Je peux essayer une autre pointure ?” (May I try another size?)
The vendeuse (saleswoman) may bring out a new box and set it down with a polite: “Voilà, madame, en 40. Essayez-les tranquillement.” (Here you are, ma’am, in 40. Take your time trying them on.)
That’s when you slip into the French rhythm of shopping — less rush, more essayage (trying on).
Women’s Shoes
| French Size | Written in French | Pronunciation hint | US Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | trente-six | tront-sees | 5.5–6 |
| 37 | trente-sept | tront-set | 6.5–7 |
| 38 | trente-huit | tront-weet | 7.5–8 |
| 39 | trente-neuf | tront-nuhf | 8.5–9 |
| 40 | quarante | kah-rahnt | 9–9.5 |
| 41 | quarante-et-un | kah-rahnt-ay-uh(n) | 10–10.5 |
| 42 | quarante-deux | kah-rahnt-duh | 11–11.5 |
Men’s Shoes
| French Size | Written in French | Pronunciation hint | US Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | quarante | kah-rahnt | 7–7.5 |
| 41 | quarante-et-un | kah-rahnt-ay-uh(n) | 8 |
| 42 | quarante-deux | kah-rahnt-duh | 8.5–9 |
| 43 | quarante-trois | kah-rahnt-trwah | 9.5–10 |
| 44 | quarante-quatre | kah-rahnt-katr | 10.5 |
| 45 | quarante-cinq | kah-rahnt-sank | 11–11.5 |
| 46 | quarante-six | kah-rahnt-sees | 12 |
Shoe Vocabulary in French
| French word | English meaning | Pronunciation hint |
|---|---|---|
| les chaussures | shoes | lay sho-syur |
| les baskets | sneakers / trainers | lay bas-ket |
| les bottes | boots | lay bot |
| les sandales | sandals | lay sahn-dahl |
| les escarpins | pumps / high heels | lay es-kar-pan |
| les mocassins | loafers | lay mo-ka-san |
| les tongs | flip-flops | lay tong |
| les chaussons | slippers | lay sho-son |
| les lacets | shoelaces | lay la-say |
| la pointure | shoe size | lah pwan-tyur |
Useful French Phrases in Shops
General Phrases
| French phrase | Pronunciation hint | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour Madame / Monsieur | bon-zhoor mah-dahm / muh-syeur | Good morning, madam / sir |
| Je peux vous aider ? | zhuh puh voo-zay-day | May I help you? |
| Vous cherchez quelque chose en particulier ? | voo sher-shay kel-kuh shohz on par-tee-kew-lee-ay | Are you looking for something in particular? |
| Vous voulez essayer ? | voo voo-lay ess-ay-yay | Would you like to try it on? |
| Ça vous va bien. | sah voo vah byan | It suits you well. |
Clothing Phrases
| French phrase | Pronunciation hint | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quelle taille faites-vous ? | kel tie fet voo | What size are you? |
| Avez-vous cette robe en taille 40 ? | ah-vay voo set rob on tiey karont | Do you have this dress in size 40? |
| Où est la cabine d’essayage ? | oo eh lah ka-been dess-ay-ahzh | Where is the fitting room? |
| C’est trop grand / trop petit. | say troh grahn / troh puh-tee | It’s too big / too small. |
| Je préfère une taille au-dessus / au-dessous. | zhuh pray-fair oon tie oh-deh-soo / oh-duh-soo | I’d prefer a size up / down. |
Shoe Phrases
| French phrase | Pronunciation hint | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je fais du 39. | zhuh feh doo tront-nuhf | I wear size 39. |
| Vous avez ces bottes en 38 ? | voo zav-ay say bot ahn tront-weet | Do you have these boots in size 38? |
| Je peux essayer en 40 ? | zhuh puh eh-say-yay ahn kah-rahnt | Can I try them in size 40? |
| Elles sont un peu serrées. | el son ahn puh seh-ray | They are a little tight. |
| Elles sont trop grandes. | el son troh grahnd | They are too big. |
From Costco Chic to French Chic
Sizing is just the beginning. Moving to France often means changing not only the numbers on your clothing tags but also the way you think about style.
That’s exactly what happened with Christy, an American expat I interviewed for my podcast. Back in California, she described her look with a smile: “I was Costco chic — you know, jeans, bulk-bought tops, very practical.” But when she retired and made the leap to France, she chose to leave most of those clothes behind.
“I decided to reinvent myself here,” she told me. “Now I buy fewer clothes, but better ones. A linen dress, a jacket I really love, pieces that make me feel more chic without overstuffing my closet.”
Her story reflects something many expats notice: French shopping is less about buying in bulk and more about choosing des pièces choisies (carefully selected pieces). Local shops encourage you to think in terms of quality, tailoring, and elegance rather than volume. Christy found that even with fewer clothes, she felt more confident and more connected to her new life in France.
Where to Shop: French Favorites
Once you’re ready to dive in, you’ll find that France has a rich mix of shops. Some are budget-friendly, others high-end, but all can help you refine your French chic.
- Monoprix – A beloved everyday store, often compared to a French Target. You’ll find clothes, groceries, and home goods under one roof.
- Galeries Lafayette – The iconic Paris department store (you’ll also find branches in other big cities). A temple of fashion from affordable to luxury.
- Zara & H&M – International chains, but in France the selection can feel trendier and often more tailored.
- Sézane – A modern French brand famous for Parisian chic with a sustainable twist.
- Small boutiques – In towns like Aix-en-Provence or Nice, don’t miss the local boutiques. That’s where you’ll find unique pieces and practice your French in real-life situations.
And remember: shopping in France isn’t just about acquiring clothes. It’s part of the cultural experience. Taking the time to browse, to chat with la vendeuse, to try on only one or two carefully chosen items — this is part of what makes French shopping feel so different.
Practice: Dialogues à trous
Fill in the blanks using the words from the mixed word banks.
1. At the Clothing Store
Vendeuse : Bonjour Madame, je peux vous ______ ?
Client : Oui, je cherche un ______ en ______ 42.
Vendeuse : Très bien. Voulez-vous ______ ?
Client : Oui, où est la ______ d’essayage ?
Word bank: cabine – pantalon – aider – essayer – taille
2. At the Shoe Store
Vendeuse : Bonjour Monsieur, quelle ______ faites-vous ?
Client : Ma ______ est 44.
Vendeuse : Voici des ______ en cuir. Vous voulez les ______ ?
Client : Oui, mais avez-vous aussi ce ______ en noir ?
Word bank: modèle – pointure – chaussures – essayer – chaussures
3. Looking for a Coat
Vendeuse : Vous cherchez quelque chose en particulier ?
Client : Oui, un ______ pour l’hiver.
Vendeuse : Voilà ce ______ en taille 40.
Client : Je pense que c’est trop . Vous avez une taille au- ?
Vendeuse : Oui, je vais voir.
Word bank: dessus – manteau – modèle – grand
4. In the Fitting Room
Vendeuse : Comment va la ______ ?
Client : Elle est un peu trop ______.
Vendeuse : Voulez-vous la même dans une autre ______ ?
Client : Oui, s’il vous plaît. Et je voudrais aussi une ______ assortie.
Word bank: couleur – robe – jupe – serrée
5. Buying Sneakers
Vendeuse : Bonjour, vous cherchez des ______ ?
Client : Oui, je voudrais des ______ pour marcher.
Vendeuse : Très bien, voici des ______ en 41.
Client : Je fais plutôt du 42. Vous avez ma ______ ?
Vendeuse : Oui, je vais chercher.
Word bank: pointure – baskets – confortables – chaussures
Et voilà, I hope this article will be useful to you. If you want to stay in touch, sign up to my monthly newsletter.
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Déborah, Your French Teacher
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