Dialogue
Étroit or serré? Explain a narrow cut or a tight fit in French
Practise a clothes-shop dialogue with étroit and serré. Describe narrow spaces, tight waists and close spacing, with picture cards and an agreement check.
- B1
- 12 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the B1 notebook →
In short
Étroit means narrow: un passage étroit. Serré means tight or closely packed: une ceinture serrée. With clothes, une coupe étroite describes the cut; il me serre à la taille says how the garment feels on you.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
You like slim trousers, but the first pair presses at the waist. Read the exchange, then switch to practice mode and ask for a better fit.
- Vendeur
Bonjour, je peux vous aider ?
English
Hello, can I help you?
- You
Bonjour. Je cherche un pantalon à la coupe étroite, mais pas trop serré à la taille.
Ask for slim-cut trousers that are not too tight at the waist.
English
Hello. I’m looking for slim-cut trousers, but not too tight at the waist.
- Vendeur
Essayez ce modèle. Les cabines sont au fond.
English
Try this style. The fitting rooms are at the back.
- You
Merci. Le passage entre les portants est vraiment étroit.
Thank the assistant and describe the narrow passage between the clothes rails.
English
Thank you. The passage between the clothes rails is really narrow.
- Vendeur
Oui, passez plutôt de ce côté.
English
Yes, come this way instead.
- You
La coupe me plaît, mais il me serre à la taille.
Say you like the cut, but the trousers are tight at the waist.
English
I like the cut, but the trousers are tight at the waist.
- Vendeur
Je vous apporte la taille au-dessus.
English
I’ll bring you the next size up.
- You
Celui-ci va mieux. Je peux aussi essayer cette ceinture ?
Say this pair fits better and ask to try the belt.
English
This pair fits better. Can I also try this belt?
- Vendeur
Bien sûr. Vous pouvez la régler.
English
Of course. You can adjust it.
- You
Elle est trop serrée comme ça. Je vais la desserrer un peu.
Say the belt is too tight and you will loosen it a little.
English
It’s too tight like this. I’ll loosen it a little.
- Vendeur
Et maintenant ?
English
And now?
- You
C’est parfait. Je prends le pantalon et la ceinture.
Say the fit is perfect and that you will take both items.
English
That’s perfect. I’ll take the trousers and the belt.
What is the difference between étroit and serré?
étroitnarrow
Focus: how much width something has
un pantalon étroit / une rue étroite
La rue est trop étroite pour ce camion.
The street is too narrow for this lorry.
Ce pantalon a une coupe étroite.
These trousers have a narrow cut.
serrétight; close together
Focus: pressure, fit or spacing
une ceinture serrée / des chaises serrées
Cette chemise est trop serrée aux épaules.
This shirt is too tight across the shoulders.
Les chaises sont serrées autour de la table.
The chairs are packed closely around the table.
A pair of trousers can be both étroit and serré. Add the body area to explain the problem: à la taille (at the waist), aux cuisses (around the thighs) or aux épaules (across the shoulders). French un pantalon is singular, so the dialogue uses il and celui-ci.
Clothes from the fitting-room exchange
Find:
| Noun | Narrow | Tight |
|---|---|---|
| un pantalon | étroit | serré |
| une veste | étroite | serrée |
| des pantalons | étroits | serrés |
| des vestes | étroites | serrées |
| French | English | What is close or limited? |
|---|---|---|
| des liens étroits | close ties | The relationship between people. |
| un emploi du temps serré | a tight schedule | The gaps between appointments. |