Che taglia porta?

What size do you take?

Pronunciation

'Taglia' is 'TAL-ya' — the 'gli' combination makes a palatal 'ly' sound, like the 'll' in 'million'.

When to use it

Said by staff to help find the right size. You'll hear this constantly in Italian shops. Know your European size before you go.

What it means

'Porta' here means 'do you wear/carry', from 'portare'. In Italian, you 'carry' a size rather than 'being' a size. Formal pronoun Lei is implied.

Variations

Che numero porta? (shoes)

What shoe size do you take?

Use 'numero' for shoes, 'taglia' for clothing

Conosce la sua taglia?

Do you know your size?

Asked when customer seems unsure

Di solito che taglia mette?

What size do you usually wear?

More conversational, informal shops

Mini Dialogue

Commessa: Che taglia porta? Cliente: Di solito la quaranta, ma dipende dalla marca. Commessa: Capisco. Le porto sia la quaranta che la quarantadue. Cliente: Perfetto, grazie.

Assistant: What size do you take? Customer: Usually a forty, but it depends on the brand. Assistant: I understand. I'll bring you both the forty and the forty-two. Customer: Perfect, thank you.

Cultural Note

Italian clothing sizes follow the European system. Women's sizes typically run 36–52, men's 44–58. Sizes can vary significantly between brands, so always try before buying.

← Previous

Cerco una camicia.

Porto la quarantadue.

← All phrases: At the Clothing Store