German · Kleidung / Umtausch
You look for shoes in your size and do not know the German size: what to say in German
You look for shoes in your size and do not know the German size.
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How it's done. In Germany shoe sizes (Schuhgröße) follow the European system (Größe achtunddreißig): have your foot measured in the shop, because sizes differ.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Entschuldigung, ich suche diese Schuhe in Größe achtunddreißig.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh ZOO-kheh DEE-zeh SHOO-eh een GRYOH-seh AHKH-toon-drigh-seekh.
Excuse me, I'm looking for these shoes in size thirty-eight.
Or say:Haben Sie diese Schuhe eine Nummer größer?
KHAH-bayn zee DEE-zeh SHOO-eh IGH-neh NOO-muh GRYOH-suh?
THEY SAY
Einen Moment, ich schaue im Lager nach.IGH-nayn moh-MAYNT, eekh SHOW-eh eem LAH-guh nahkh.
One moment, I'll look in the stockroom.
They might also say:
Ich sehe nach, ob wir sie noch haben.
Eekh ZEH-eh nahkh, op veer zee nokh KHAH-bayn.
I'll check whether we still have them.
2
YOU REPLY
Danke. Ich bin mir bei der Größe nicht sicher.
DAHN-keh. Eekh been meer bigh dehr GRYOH-seh neekht ZEE-khuh.
Thanks. I'm not sure about the size.
THEY SAY
Dann messen wir Ihren Fuß. Stellen Sie sich bitte hier auf das Messgerät.Dahn MEH-sayn veer EE-rayn foos. SHTEH-layn zee zeekh BEE-teh kheer owf dahs MES-geh-ret.
Then we'll measure your foot. Please stand here on the measuring device.
3
YOU REPLY
So?
Zoh?
Like this?
THEY SAY
Ja. Das ist Größe achtunddreißig.Yah. Dahs eest GRYOH-seh AHKH-toon-drigh-seekh.
Yes. That is size thirty-eight.
4
YOU FINISH
Dann probiere ich das Paar an. Danke!
Dahn proh-BEE-reh eekh dahs pahr ahn. DAHN-keh!
Then I'll try on the pair. Thanks!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
suche
ZOO-kheh
verb
I look for
Schuhe
SHOO-eh
noun
shoes
Größe
GRYOH-seh
noun
size
Moment
moh-MAYNT
noun
moment
schaue
SHOW-eh
verb
I look
Lager
LAH-guh
noun
warehouse
34 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You return a jacket bought in the sale and are offered a voucherKleidung / Umtausch · A2 in the app
→You want to try on clothesKleidung / Umtausch · A1 in the app
→The size does not fit and you ask for anotherKleidung / Umtausch · A1 in the app
→You want to exchange something you boughtKleidung / Umtausch · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report