Shopping for Clothes in Brazil: Portuguese Sizes, Colors, and Fitting Rooms
Follow a practical clothing-store conversation from finding an item to checking the fit and paying.
Real Life Portuguese · 8 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Start with com licença (excuse me) and say what you are looking for. Tamanho is size, cor is color, and camisa can mean a shirt; use the exact clothing word when you know it. If you do not know the word, point to the item and ask whether the store has it in another size or color.
Ask for an item, size, or color
Brazilian clothing sizes may not match the labels you use at home, so try the item on or check the store’s size chart. Avoid assuming that a letter size always fits the same way between brands. Asking if a size is available is more useful than relying on a conversion from memory.
Com licença, vocês têm esta camisa em outro tamanho?
Excuse me, do you have this shirt in another size?
Tem esta calça na cor azul?
Do you have these pants in blue?
Onde ficam os provadores?
Where are the fitting rooms?
Try on clothes and describe the fit
Provador means fitting room. After trying something on, you can say that it fits well, feels tight, or feels loose. Serve can mean “to fit” when discussing clothing: Esta camisa serve? asks whether this shirt fits or works. Ficou bom/boa can describe how an item turned out, with the adjective matching the item in a simple description.
If the fit is close but not right, ask for the next size up or down: um tamanho maior or um tamanho menor. You can also request an item with a different cut or length. These short phrases help staff understand the change you need.
Esta calça ficou apertada.
These pants turned out tight.
Você pode trazer um tamanho maior?
Could you bring a larger size?
A manga ficou comprida demais.
The sleeve turned out too long.
Check the price and payment options
Ask Quanto custa? (How much does it cost?) or Qual é o preço? (What is the price?). If the tag shows installments, ask whether that price is à vista (paid at once) or parcelado (paid in installments). Payment options vary by store, so check before you assume a card or another method is accepted.
At checkout, listen for the total and confirm how many items you are buying. You can ask for a bag or say you do not need one. If you are unsure about a charge, request that the total be shown on the screen before paying.
Quanto custa esta jaqueta?
How much is this jacket?
Esse valor é à vista ou parcelado?
Is that price paid at once or in installments?
Pode colocar na sacola, por favor?
Could you put it in a bag, please?
Use a short shopping dialogue
Combine one item request, one fitting question, and one payment question into a compact role-play. If you do not understand the answer, ask the employee to repeat or show the available sizes. Rehearsing the sequence reduces the pressure of making a full sentence while you are shopping.
To build your vocabulary before a trip, review the Real Life Portuguese guide to color agreement and the shopping phrases for supermarkets. I Speak Portuguese can help you practice speaking with a teacher, while this page gives you a phrase set you can save on your phone.
Estou procurando uma camiseta preta.
I’m looking for a black T-shirt.
Posso experimentar esta? Tem um tamanho menor?
Can I try this on? Do you have a smaller size?
Gostei. Vou pagar no cartão.
I like it. I’ll pay by card.
Put it into practice
Learn provador, tamanho, maior, menor, and Quanto custa? Then confirm fit and payment details with the employee before you buy.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Could you bring a larger size”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.