Trying on a shirt | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a clothing shop, a customer asks about a shirt, tries it on, and checks the fit..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Trying on a shirt to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Necesito una camisa nueva.

neh-seh-SEE-toh OO-nah kah-MEE-sah NWEH-vah I need a new shirt.
B

¿Qué color busca?

keh koh-LOR BOOS-kah What color are you looking for?
A

Algo azul, si lo tiene.

AHL-goh ah-SOOL see loh TYEH-neh Something blue, if you have it.
B

Aquí tiene una de su talla.

ah-KEE TYEH-neh OO-nah deh soo TAH-yah Here is one in your size.
A

¿Puedo probármela?

PWEH-doh proh-BAR-meh-lah Can I try it on?
B

El probador está justo aquí.

ehl proh-bah-DOR ehs-TAH HOOS-toh ah-KEE The changing room is just over here.
A

Me queda muy bien.

meh KEH-dah mwee BYEHN It fits really well.
B

Le queda muy bien.

leh KEH-dah mwee BYEHN It looks nice on you.

Word by Word

Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” in “Necesito una camisa nueva.” It is the form used when the speaker says that something is needed; it comes from the verb necesitar. A useful reuse pattern is to place the needed item after “Necesito”.
una “Una” means “a” in “una camisa” and refers to one feminine item. It agrees with the feminine noun “camisa.” Use it before a singular feminine noun when introducing one item.
camisa “Camisa” means “shirt” in “Necesito una camisa nueva.” It is the clothing item the speaker wants to buy. It can be used after an article and before or with a description of the shirt.
nueva “Nueva” means “new” and describes the shirt in “una camisa nueva.” Its form matches the feminine noun “camisa.” Use it after a noun when describing a new feminine item.
Qué “Qué” means “what” in the question “¿Qué color busca?” It asks for specific information about the color being sought. In this question, it comes directly before the noun “color.”
color “Color” means “color” in “¿Qué color busca?” It names the feature the customer is being asked to choose. A common reuse pattern is to use it after “Qué” when asking which color someone wants.
busca “Busca” means “are you looking for” in “¿Qué color busca?” Here it is used to ask a customer formally what they want. The object or thing being sought can appear before “busca,” as “Qué color” does here.
Algo “Algo” means “something” in “Algo azul, si lo tiene.” It introduces an unspecified item that the speaker describes with “azul.” Use it when the exact item is not specified or does not need to be named.
azul “Azul” means “blue” in “Algo azul, si lo tiene.” It describes the unspecified item the customer wants. It is useful after “algo” when requesting something with a particular quality or color.
si “Si” means “if” in “si lo tiene.” It introduces a condition: the request applies only if the shop has the requested item. Use it before a clause that states the condition for a request.
lo “Lo” means “it” in “si lo tiene,” referring to the requested item. It appears before “tiene” as the object of having. Use it to avoid repeating an already understood masculine or unspecified item.
tiene “Tiene” means “has” in “si lo tiene.” Here it asks whether the shop has the requested item, addressing the other person formally. It comes after the object pronoun “lo” in this clause.
Aquí “Aquí” means “here” in “Aquí tiene una de su talla.” Together with this expression, it helps present or offer an item located nearby. Use it to point out something that is being handed over or shown.
de “De” helps express the size relationship in “una de su talla,” meaning “one in your size.” It connects the item with the person’s size. In this phrase, it comes before the possessive expression “su talla.”
su “Su” means “your” in the formal customer-facing expression “su talla.” It shows that the size belongs to the person being addressed. Use it before a noun when addressing someone formally about their item or property.
talla “Talla” means “size” in “una de su talla.” It identifies the clothing measurement that matches the customer. Use it after a possessive word when referring to someone’s clothing size.
Puedo “Puedo” means “Can I” or “May I” in “¿Puedo probármela?” It is used to ask for permission to do something. A useful reuse pattern is to follow it with an infinitive describing the requested action.
probármela “Probármela” means “try it on” in “¿Puedo probármela?” The form combines the action of trying on with pronouns referring to the speaker and the shirt. Use this form when asking to try on a specific feminine clothing item.
El “El” means “the” in “El probador.” It introduces the singular masculine noun “probador.” Use it before a singular masculine noun when referring to a specific place or thing.
probador “Probador” means “changing room” in “El probador está justo aquí.” It names the place where the customer can try on the shirt. In a clothing shop, it can be used with a location expression to direct someone there.
está “Está” means “is” and indicates location in “El probador está justo aquí.” It links the changing room with the place being pointed out. Use it with a place or thing when saying where it is located.
justo “Justo” means “right” or “exactly” in “justo aquí.” It emphasizes that the changing room is in this precise nearby place. Use it before a location word to make the location more specific.
Me “Me” means “to me” in “Me queda muy bien.” It identifies the person whose body or appearance is being considered. In this clothing expression, it appears before “queda” to show who the garment fits or suits.
queda “Queda” expresses how the garment fits or looks on someone in “Me queda muy bien.” The complete meaning comes from the construction with “Me” and “muy bien,” not from “queda” alone. A useful reuse pattern is to place the person pronoun before “queda” when describing how clothing fits or suits someone.
muy “Muy” means “very” or “really” in “Me queda muy bien.” It strengthens the description of how well the shirt fits. Use it before “bien” to make the positive assessment stronger.
bien “Bien” means “well” or “nicely” in “Me queda muy bien” and “Le queda muy bien.” With “queda,” it describes a good fit or a good appearance on someone. Use it after “muy” when expressing that clothing fits or looks especially well.
Le “Le” means “to you” in “Le queda muy bien,” addressing the customer formally. It identifies the person on whom the item looks good or fits well. In this construction, it comes before “queda,” just as “Me” does when the speaker describes the fit for themself.

Grammar Points

poder + infinitivo

¿Puedo probármela?

PWEH-doh proh-BAR-meh-lah

Can I try it on?

Use poder + infinitive to express ability or permission. Object pronouns can attach to the infinitive: probar + me + la.

quedar + bien

Queda muy bien.

KEH-dah mwee BYEHN

It fits very well.

Quedar can mean “to fit” or “to suit.” Bien is an adverb describing how something fits, and muy intensifies it.

Spanish Vocabulary

algo pron
AHL-goh something

Algo azul, si lo tiene.

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

Aquí tiene una de su talla.

azul adj
ah-SOOL blue

Algo azul, si lo tiene.

buscar verb
BOOS-kar to look for busca

¿Qué color busca?

camisa noun
kah-MEE-sah shirt

Necesito una camisa nueva.

color noun
koh-LOR color

¿Qué color busca?

necesitar verb
neh-seh-see-TAR to need necesito

Necesito una camisa nueva.

nuevo adj
NWEH-voh new nueva

Necesito una camisa nueva.

qué det
keh what

¿Qué color busca?

si conj
see if

Algo azul, si lo tiene.

talla noun
TAH-yah size

Aquí tiene una de su talla.

tener verb
teh-NEHR to have tiene

Algo azul, si lo tiene.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need a new shirt.

Show AnswerNecesito una camisa nueva.

What color are you looking for?

Show Answer¿Qué color busca?

Something blue, if you have it.

Show AnswerAlgo azul, si lo tiene.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to need

Show Answernecesito

to look for

Show Answerbusca

new

Show Answernueva

blue

Show Answerazul