Shopping for Clothes: Asking About Prices and Sizes

Essential Shopping Vocabulary

Before we start forming sentences, let's build our vocabulary. When you're shopping for clothes, you'll need a few key words.

This vocabulary comes from the resources we will be using today. You can find many of these words in the vocabulary list of the DLI student manual and the Wikibooks page on clothing.

Phase 1: "How much does that cost?"

The first and most fundamental question when shopping is about the price. In German, there are two common ways to ask this.

As you just heard, the two key phrases are:

• Wie viel kostet das? (How much does that cost?)
• Was kostet das? (What does that cost?)

Both are used interchangeably. To be more specific, you replace das (that) with the noun for the item you're interested in. Remember to use the correct article!

• Was kostet **der** Pullover?
• Was kostet **die** Jacke?
• Was kostet **das** T-Shirt?

You can also ask about the price after expressing your interest using möchten, which you learned last lesson.

Phase 2: "Do you have this in my size?"

Finding the right size is the next challenge. German clothing and shoe sizes are different from those in many other countries. For example, a US women's shoe size 8 is a German size 39. You don't need to memorize these conversions, but it's good to be aware of them.

Now, let's learn how to ask for a specific size.

This structure is incredibly useful. You can combine it with the general sizes S (klein), M (mittel), and L (groß). For example: Haben Sie dieses Hemd in Größe M? (Do you have this shirt in size M?).

Phase 3: Bringing it Together with Modal Verbs

Now we'll combine this vocabulary with modal verbs to create polite and effective questions. This is where your knowledge of the Satzklammer (sentence bracket) becomes crucial. As a quick reminder, in a question with a modal verb, the structure is often:
Question Word -> Conjugated Modal Verb -> Subject -> ... -> Main Verb (Infinitive)

Using können to ask for help and permission

Können (can / to be able to) is your best friend for making polite requests.

The phrase you just saw is golden:

• Können Sie mir helfen, meine Größe zu finden? (Can you help me find my size?)

You can also use können to ask for permission to try something on:

• Kann ich diese Jacke anprobieren? (Can I try this jacket on?)

Using dürfen for more formal permission

Dürfen (may / to be allowed to) is a more formal way to ask for permission. Using it can make you sound extra polite.

• Darf ich diese Jacke anprobieren? (May I try this jacket on?)

This distinction between können and dürfen is subtle but useful. In most casual shops, können is perfectly fine. In a high-end boutique or when addressing a staff member more formally, dürfen is an excellent choice.

A Sample Shopping Dialogue

Let's see how these phrases work in a conversation.

You (Kunde/Kundin):
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen? (Excuse me, can you help me?)

Sales Clerk (Verkäufer/in):
Ja, natürlich. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen? (Yes, of course. How can I help you?)

You:
Ich finde diesen Pullover sehr schön. Was kostet er? (I find this sweater very nice. What does it cost?)

Sales Clerk:
Der kostet 79 Euro. (That costs 79 Euros.)

You:
Haben Sie den Pullover auch in Größe M? (Do you also have the sweater in size M?)

Sales Clerk:
Ja, einen Moment... Hier, bitte. (Yes, one moment... Here you are.)

You:
Danke. Darf ich ihn anprobieren? (Thanks. May I try it on?)

Sales Clerk:
Sicher. Die Umkleidekabinen sind dort drüben. (Certainly. The fitting rooms are over there.)

Let's Practice

Imagine you are in a German department store. How would you ask the following questions?

1. You see a pair of shoes (die Schuhe, plural) you like. Ask how much they cost.
2. You need the shoes in size 42. Ask the sales clerk if they have them.
3. You want to try on the shoes. Ask for permission politely.
4. You like a T-shirt (das T-Shirt) but it seems too expensive (zu teuer). State that you would like to buy it, but it is too expensive.

Take a moment to formulate your German sentences.

Possible Solutions:

1. Entschuldigung, was kosten diese Schuhe? or Wie viel kosten diese Schuhe?
2. Haben Sie diese Schuhe in Größe 42?
3. Kann ich die Schuhe anprobieren? or Darf ich die Schuhe anprobieren?
4. Ich möchte dieses T-Shirt kaufen, aber es ist zu teuer.

Conclusion

Sehr gut! You have now learned the essential language tools for a successful shopping trip in a German-speaking country. You can confidently ask about prices and sizes, and you know how to use modal verbs like können, dürfen, and möchten to do so politely and effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• Ask for the price with Was kostet...? or Wie viel kostet...?
• Ask for sizes with Haben Sie das in Größe...?
• Use können for polite requests: Können Sie mir helfen?
• Use können or the more formal dürfen to ask for permission: Kann/Darf ich das anprobieren?
• Express your desire to purchase with Ich möchte das kaufen.

In our next lesson, we will continue practicing modal verbs but shift our focus to a topic directly related to your interests: you'll learn how to describe your digital habits, such as using AI and watching vlogs.