A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Where is the fitting room" in French
Ask for the fitting rooms in French clothing stores and boutiques to try on clothes.
Où sont les cabines d'essayage ?
oo sohn lay ka-BEEN day sah-yay-MAHNneutral
French TTS · 0:01
When you're in a clothing store in France and need to try on something you've picked out. This is the standard phrase to get directed to the changing areas.
Alternatives
- Où est la cabine ?Slightly more casual, implies there's only one or you're asking generally.
- Je peux essayer ça où ?More direct, asking 'Where can I try this on?'
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'cabines'
Make sure to pronounce the 'b' and the 'n' in 'cabines' – don't drop them.
Silent 's' in 'essayage'
The 's' in 'essayage' is silent, so it sounds like 'ah-yay-MAHN'.
A small cultural note
In some smaller or more traditional shops, the assistant might bring items to you rather than pointing out the fitting rooms directly.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to ask to try on clothes in French?
You can ask 'Où sont les cabines d'essayage ?' to find the fitting rooms. Alternatively, you can point to an item and ask 'Je peux essayer ça où ?'.
What if there's only one fitting room?
You can use the singular 'Où est la cabine d'essayage ?' or simply 'Où est la cabine ?' if you know there's just one.
Is 'cabine d'essayage' formal?
No, 'cabine d'essayage' is the standard, neutral term used in most shopping situations. It's perfectly appropriate for interacting with shop staff.
