Master Sizes and Colors in Arabic While Shopping 2026

Learning a new language is not just about memorizing words and grammar. It is about being able to navigate real-life situations confidently. One of the most common scenarios for language learners is shopping. Whether you are visiting a market in Cairo, a mall in Dubai, or an online Arabic store, knowing how to ask for sizes and colors is essential. It allows you to communicate clearly, avoid misunderstandings, and make your experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Shopping in Arabic-speaking countries can feel challenging at first. Words can sound unfamiliar, and numbers, colors, and sizes may differ from what you are used to. For learners, the key is to focus on practical language skills that you can use immediately. Asking for the right size or color is not just about convenience. It is a chance to practice sentence structure, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Small exchanges, like asking for a medium shirt or a red dress, build your confidence and help you connect with local culture.

In Arabic, the way you ask questions or make requests can vary depending on the situation. Formal Arabic, known as Modern Standard Arabic, is used in writing, education, and some formal contexts. Colloquial Arabic, however, is used in daily conversations, including shopping. Depending on the region, the words for sizes, colors, and even clothing items may change slightly. For example, a small shirt in Egyptian Arabic may sound different from the same request in Levantine Arabic. Understanding these nuances is essential for clear communication.

In this article, you will learn step by step how to ask for sizes and colors in Arabic. You will see practical examples for clothing, shoes, and accessories. You will learn how to combine colors and sizes naturally in a sentence. You will also discover tips for polite requests, clarifying options, and confirming what you want. By the end of this guide, you will be able to approach a shopkeeper with confidence, ask for exactly what you need, and even engage in a small conversation about products.

The goal of this article is not just to teach you vocabulary. It is to give you a toolkit for real-life interactions. You will be able to apply these phrases in markets, stores, and online shopping platforms. You will gain a better understanding of Arabic grammar through context rather than memorization. And most importantly, you will feel more confident navigating everyday situations in an Arabic-speaking environment.

At Ramdani Arabic Academy, we focus on practical language skills that learners can use immediately. We combine lessons, exercises, and real-life examples to make learning effective and engaging. This article is part of our mission to help learners worldwide interact naturally in Arabic. Whether you are a beginner or at an intermediate level, the strategies here will strengthen your vocabulary, pronunciation, and confidence while shopping.

How to Ask for Sizes in Arabic

Knowing how to ask for sizes is essential when shopping for clothes, shoes, or accessories. In Arabic, size-related vocabulary is straightforward, but the way you use it in a sentence can change depending on whether you are speaking formally or casually. Learning these phrases will make your shopping experience smoother and help you avoid confusion.

Common Size Words

Start with the basic size words. These are used for clothing, shoes, and other wearable items:

• صغير (ṣaghīr) – Small
• متوسط (mutawassiṭ) – Medium
• كبير (kabīr) – Large
• جدا كبير (jiddan kabīr) – Extra-large

For shoes, you may also need numbers. Shoe sizes in Arabic are often the same as European or US numbers, but it’s useful to know how to ask politely:

• ما هو مقاس الحذاء؟ (mā huwa maqās al-ḥidhāʼ?) – What is the shoe size?
• أريد مقاس… (urīd maqās …) – I want size…

Asking Politely

Politeness is important in Arabic culture. Adding words like من فضلك (min faḍlik) – please, and هل يمكنك…؟ (hal yumkinuka …?) – can you…?, makes your request more natural. For example:

• هل يمكنك أن تعطيني هذا القميص بمقاس متوسط؟ (hal yumkinuka an tuʿṭīnī hādhā al-qamīṣ bimaqās mutawassiṭ?)
  Can you give me this shirt in medium size?
• من فضلك، أريد حذاء بمقاس 42. (min faḍlik, urīd ḥidhāʼ bimaqās 42.)
  Please, I want shoes in size 42.

Using Numbers and Measurements

Some clothing items, like pants or jackets, may require precise measurements. Numbers in Arabic are:

• 1 – واحد (wāḥid)
• 2 – اثنان (ithnān)
• 3 – ثلاثة (thalātha)
• 4 – أربعة (arbaʿa)
• 5 – خمسة (khamsa)
• 6 – ستة (sitta)
• 7 – سبعة (sabʿa)
• 8 – ثمانية (thamāniya)
• 9 – تسعة (tisʿa)
• 10 – عشرة (ʿashara)

You can combine numbers with size words when needed:

• أحتاج سروال بمقاس 34. (aḥtāj sirwāl bimaqās 34.)
  I need pants in size 34.

Asking About Availability

Sometimes, the size you want may not be available. Knowing how to ask about availability helps:

• هل يوجد مقاس أصغر؟ (hal yūjad maqās aṣghar?) – Is a smaller size available?
• هل يوجد مقاس أكبر؟ (hal yūjad maqās akbar?) – Is a larger size available?

These phrases are simple but effective. Using them will help you check options, avoid disappointment, and get the size you need.

Practice Tips

• Always practice combining the size word with the item you want: قميص صغير (small shirt), حذاء كبير (large shoes).
• Listen to native speakers online or in shops to hear how they ask for sizes.
• Repeat polite phrases like من فضلك and هل يمكنك until they feel natural.

Learning to ask for sizes correctly is a crucial first step in shopping confidently in Arabic. Once you master this, you can move on to colors, which is the next essential part.

How to Ask for Colors in Arabic

Colors are one of the first things people notice when shopping. Knowing how to ask for colors in Arabic will make your shopping experience smoother and allow you to express your preferences clearly. Colors can change the way an item looks, so being specific is important.

Common Color Words

Start with the most common colors used for clothes and accessories:

• أحمر (aḥmar) – Red
• أزرق (azraq) – Blue
• أخضر (akhḍar) – Green
• أصفر (aṣfar) – Yellow
• أسود (aswad) – Black
• أبيض (abyaḍ) – White
• برتقالي (burtuqālī) – Orange
• بنفسجي (banafsajī) – Purple
• زهري (zahri) – Pink
• بني (bunnī) – Brown
• رمادي (ramādī) – Gray

When shopping, it is common to combine colors with size or item type:

• قميص أحمر (qamīṣ aḥmar) – Red shirt
• حذاء أسود (ḥidhāʼ aswad) – Black shoes

Asking Politely for a Color

As in asking for sizes, politeness is important. Use phrases like من فضلك (min faḍlik) – please, or هل يمكنني الحصول على…؟ (hal yumkinunī al-ḥuṣūl ʿalā …?) – Can I get…?

Examples:

• من فضلك، أريد هذا القميص باللون الأزرق. (min faḍlik, urīd hādhā al-qamīṣ bil-lawn al-azraq.)
  Please, I want this shirt in blue.
• هل يمكنني الحصول على الحذاء باللون الأحمر؟ (hal yumkinunī al-ḥuṣūl ʿalā al-ḥidhāʼ bil-lawn al-aḥmar?)
  Can I get the shoes in red?

Combining Colors and Sizes

Often, you need both size and color. Arabic allows you to combine them naturally in a sentence. The order usually is: item → color → size.

• أريد قميص أحمر بمقاس متوسط. (urīd qamīṣ aḥmar bimaqās mutawassiṭ.)
  I want a red shirt in medium size.
• من فضلك، هل يوجد حذاء أسود بمقاس 42؟ (min faḍlik, hal yūjad ḥidhāʼ aswad bimaqās 42?)
  Please, is there a black shoe in size 42?

Asking About Color Options

Sometimes, the color you want may not be available. Knowing how to ask about options helps:

• هل توجد ألوان أخرى؟ (hal tujadu alwān uẖrā?) – Are there other colors?
• هل يوجد باللون الأخضر؟ (hal yūjad bil-lawn al-akhḍar?) – Do you have it in green?

These simple phrases help you explore options and make your choice without confusion.

Practice Tips

• Pair color words with items repeatedly: فستان أزرق (blue dress), قبعة حمراء (red hat).
• Listen to native speakers describing items in markets or online videos.
• Repeat polite phrases until they become natural, such as من فضلك and هل يمكنني…؟

Learning how to ask for colors allows you to shop effectively and communicate your preferences clearly. When combined with size phrases, it gives you the full toolkit to shop in Arabic with confidence.

Combining Sizes and Colors in Conversation

Once you know how to ask for sizes and colors individually, the next step is to use them together in natural conversations. Combining these elements allows you to be specific about what you want and communicate clearly with shopkeepers or online sellers.

Basic Sentence Structure

In Arabic, the usual order is: item → color → size. Adding polite words makes your request smoother.

• أريد قميص أحمر بمقاس كبير. (urīd qamīṣ aḥmar bimaqās kabīr.)
  I want a red shirt in large size.
• من فضلك، هل يمكنني الحصول على الحذاء الأسود بمقاس 41؟ (min faḍlik, hal yumkinunī al-ḥuṣūl ʿalā al-ḥidhāʼ al-aswad bimaqās 41?)
  Please, can I get the black shoes in size 41?

Notice how adding من فضلك or هل يمكنني…؟ makes your request polite without sounding complicated.

Asking About Availability

Sometimes the size or color you want may not be available. Asking politely and checking alternatives helps:

• هل يوجد هذا الفستان باللون الأزرق وبمقاس متوسط؟ (hal yūjad hādhā al-fustān bil-lawn al-azraq w bimaqās mutawassiṭ?)
  Is this dress available in blue and medium size?
• إذا لم يكن باللون الأحمر، هل يوجد باللون الوردي؟ (idhā lam yakun bil-lawn al-aḥmar, hal yūjad bil-lawn al-wardī?)
  If it’s not available in red, do you have it in pink?

These sentences show how to combine color and size in one question while staying polite.

Clarifying Options

Sometimes, you may need to clarify a choice or ask about multiple items:

• هل يمكنني رؤية الألوان الأخرى لهذا القميص؟ (hal yumkinunī ruʼyat al-alwān al-ukhra li-hādhā al-qamīṣ?)
  Can I see the other colors of this shirt?
• هل يوجد مقاس أصغر أو أكبر من هذا؟ (hal yūjad maqās aṣghar aw akbar min hādhā?)
  Is there a smaller or larger size than this?

These questions help you explore options without confusion and make sure you leave with the right item.

Practical Examples

Here are some common shopping scenarios:

• Clothes store:
  زبون: من فضلك، أريد قميص أزرق بمقاس متوسط.
  البائع: نعم، لدينا هذا القميص. هل تريد أن تجربه؟
  زبون: نعم، من فضلك.
• Shoe store:
  زبون: هل يمكنني الحصول على الحذاء الأسود بمقاس 42؟
  البائع: للأسف، مقاس 42 غير متوفر، هل تريد تجربة المقاس 43؟
  زبون: نعم، من فضلك.
• Online shopping:
  زبون: هل يوجد هذا الفستان باللون الأحمر وبمقاس صغير؟
  الدعم: نعم، لدينا. هل تريد إضافته للسلة؟
  زبون: نعم، شكراً.

Tips for Smooth Conversation

• Always start with من فضلك or هل يمكنني…؟ to sound polite.
• Combine color and size naturally: item → color → size.
• Ask about alternatives politely if your preferred option is unavailable.
• Practice common phrases aloud to make them feel natural in real-life situations.

Combining sizes and colors in conversation is essential for confident shopping in Arabic. Once you master these phrases, you can handle almost any shopping scenario smoothly, whether in stores, markets, or online.

Practical Advice

Learning how to ask for sizes and colors in Arabic gives you the confidence to shop independently and communicate clearly. It is one of the most practical skills for everyday life in Arabic-speaking environments. Once you know the words for sizes and colors, and how to combine them politely, you can handle almost any shopping situation—whether you are buying clothes, shoes, or accessories, in markets, stores, or online platforms.

To make your shopping experience even smoother, follow these practical tips:

• Practice before you go: Repeat key phrases aloud until they feel natural. Practice common sentences like أريد قميص أحمر بمقاس متوسط or هل يوجد باللون الأزرق؟
• Start simple: Focus on the most common sizes and colors first, then expand your vocabulary gradually.
• Use polite phrases: Words like من فضلك and هل يمكنني…؟ make interactions smoother and show respect.
• Ask about alternatives: Always check if other sizes or colors are available. This prevents disappointment and shows you are comfortable negotiating politely.
• Listen and observe: Pay attention to how native speakers ask for sizes and colors. This will improve your pronunciation and help you understand regional variations.

Shopping is not just about buying items. It is a chance to practice real-life Arabic, improve your vocabulary, and gain confidence in daily interactions. Small exchanges, like asking for a medium-sized shirt or a red pair of shoes, are opportunities to apply what you have learned in a meaningful way.

At Ramdani Arabic Academy, we focus on teaching Arabic for real-life situations. Our courses, lessons, and articles are designed to help learners like you communicate naturally and confidently. We provide step-by-step guides, practical examples, and exercises that make learning interactive and effective. This article is part of our mission to help learners worldwide gain practical skills in Arabic.

By following the guidance in this article, you can confidently ask for sizes and colors, navigate markets and stores, and even enjoy online shopping in Arabic. With practice and repetition, these phrases will become second nature, allowing you to focus on enjoying your shopping experience instead of worrying about language barriers.

About the Author
Ramdani Mohamed is the founder of Ramdani Arabic Academy, an online platform dedicated to helping learners around the world master Arabic. Through lessons, courses, and educational articles, he shares practical tools for real-life communication, making Arabic accessible and engaging for students of all levels.