Italian for the Tailor: Asking for an Invisible Hem on Trousers or a Skirt
Learn to ask a sarto for an orlo invisibile, say how many centimetres to shorten, name the fabric, and answer questions about lining and the original hem.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
At an Italian tailor's shop (sartoria), the key phrase for an invisible hem is orlo invisibile. You will need to say what garment it is, how much to shorten it, and what fabric it is made of. This lesson gives you polite, precise sentences for a real alteration request: asking for the hem, giving a measurement such as tre centimetri, naming lana or cotone, and answering the tailor's questions about the fodera (lining) and whether to keep the original hem. Use formal lei with the tailor unless you already know them well.
By the end, you can…
- ask a tailor for an invisible hem on trousers or a skirt.
- say how many centimetres to shorten a garment.
- name common fabrics such as lana and cotone.
- answer questions about lining and the original hem.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Vorrei un orlo invisibile, per favore.
I would like an invisible hem, please.
vor-RAY oon OR-lo een-vee-ZEE-bee-leh, per fa-VO-reh
Polite opening request. Use vorrei rather than voglio; it works in any sartoria.
Potrebbe accorciare i pantaloni di tre centimetri?
Could you shorten the trousers by three centimetres?
po-TREB-beh ak-kor-CHAR-eh ee pan-ta-LO-nee dee treh cheh-tee-MEH-tree
Use potrebbe for formal 'could you'. Change i pantaloni to la gonna for a skirt.
La gonna è di lana.
The skirt is made of wool.
lah GON-nah eh dee LAH-nah
Say the fabric after è di. Other useful fabrics: cotone (cotton), lino (linen), seta (silk).
C'è la fodera?
Is there a lining?
cheh lah fo-DEH-rah
The tailor may ask this; you can also ask it yourself if you are unsure.
Preferisco tenere l'orlo originale.
I prefer to keep the original hem.
preh-feh-REE-sko teh-NEH-reh LOR-lo o-ree-jee-NAH-leh
Use this if you want the original hem kept. If not, say: Non importa, può toglierlo.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for an alteration, use vorrei + noun, or potrebbe + infinitive. Examples: Vorrei un orlo invisibile. Potrebbe accorciare la gonna di due centimetri? The measurement follows di: di tre centimetri, di cinque centimetri. To state the fabric, use è di + fabric: è di lana, è di cotone. If you need to be more precise, add solo un po': Potrebbe accorciare i pantaloni solo di un centimetro?
When to use it
Use formal lei with a tailor you do not know: Potrebbe...? and Mi scusi. If the tailor is a friend or a young shop assistant you see often, informal tu is fine: Puoi accorciare...? In a shop, start with Buongiorno, then state the request. If you are not sure about the length, say: Non sono sicuro della lunghezza. Può aiutarmi? The tailor may pin the hem and ask: Va bene così? You can answer: Sì, va bene or Ancora un po' più corto, per favore.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno. Vorrei un orlo invisibile su questi pantaloni di lana.
Good morning. I would like an invisible hem on these wool trousers.bwon-JOR-no. vor-RAY oon OR-lo een-vee-ZEE-bee-leh soo KWEH-stee pan-ta-LO-nee dee LAH-nahCerto. Di quanto li dobbiamo accorciare?
Of course. By how much should we shorten them?CHER-to. dee KWAN-to lee dob-bya-MO ak-kor-CHAR-ehDi tre centimetri, per favore. C'è la fodera?
By three centimetres, please. Is there a lining?dee treh cheh-tee-MEH-tree, per fa-VO-reh. cheh lah fo-DEH-rahSì, c'è la fodera. Vuole tenere l'orlo originale?
Yes, there is a lining. Do you want to keep the original hem?see, cheh lah fo-DEH-rah. VWOH-leh teh-NEH-reh LOR-lo o-ree-jee-NAH-lehA little context goes a long way
In Italy, a sartoria is often a small independent shop. Politeness matters: use buongiorno on entering and grazie on leaving. Formal lei is standard with a tailor you do not know; informal tu is used with a familiar tailor. Do not assume prices or turnaround times; ask: Quanto costa? and Quando sarà pronto? Regional differences exist: in some areas, an orlo invisibile may be called orlo nascosto, but orlo invisibile is widely understood.
One thing to watch for
Using voglio un orlo invisibile, which sounds abrupt or demanding.
Try this instead: Use vorrei un orlo invisibile, per favore. Vorrei is the polite conditional and is standard in shops. Example: Vorrei accorciare questa gonna di cotone.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a tailor to shorten a skirt by four centimetres, politely?
Show a sample answer
Potrebbe accorciare la gonna di quattro centimetri?
Potrebbe is the formal 'could you', and di quattro centimetri gives the amount. You could also say Vorrei accorciare la gonna di quattro centimetri, which is equally polite.
2The tailor asks: C'è la fodera? What is the question about?
Show a sample answer
It asks whether the garment has a lining.
Fodera means lining. A correct reply is Sì, c'è la fodera or No, non c'è la fodera. This matters because a lining can affect how the hem is finished.
3How do you say that you prefer to keep the original hem?
Show a sample answer
Preferisco tenere l'orlo originale.
Preferisco + infinitive expresses preference. You can also say Vorrei tenere l'orlo originale. If you do not want to keep it, say Non importa, può toglierlo.
Ask for an orlo invisibile with vorrei, give the amount with di + number + centimetri, name the fabric with è di, and be ready to answer about la fodera and l'orlo originale.
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