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PhrasesAsking for SizeQuesta taglia mi stringe un po'.
A2

Questa taglia mi stringe un po'.

This size is a bit tight on me.

Pronunciation

'Stringe' — STRIN-je. The 'g' before 'e' is soft like 'j'.

When to use it

Use in the fitting room to describe gentle tightness — not completely wrong but uncomfortable. This opens a conversation about whether to size up or have the item altered.

What it means

'Stringere' means to squeeze or tighten. 'Mi stringe' (it squeezes me) is third-person singular with indirect object pronoun 'mi'. 'Un po'' (a little) softens the statement. This construction is used for shoes too: 'questa scarpa mi stringe'.

Variations

Mi stringe un po' sotto le ascelle.

It is a little tight under the arms.

Specific body area.

È un po' aderente.

It is a bit fitted.

More neutral — could be a design choice.

Si allarga dopo qualche utilizzo?

Does it stretch with use?

Asks about natural fabric stretch.

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: La M mi stringe un po' — provo la L? Commessa: Certo, ma questo modello tende a essere slim-fit. La L potrebbe essere troppo larga altrove. Cliente: Capisco. Proviamo lo stesso. Commessa: Eccola.

Customer: The M is a bit tight — shall I try the L? Assistant: Of course, but this model tends to be slim-fit. The L might be too wide elsewhere. Customer: I understand. Let's try anyway. Assistant: Here you are.

Cultural Note

Italian fashion has increasingly adopted 'slim-fit' cutting, especially for men's shirts and trousers. This reflects a cultural preference for fitted clothing. Traditional 'vestibilità classica' (classic fit) is increasingly hard to find in mainstream shops.