French Phrase
Il me faut une taille au‑dessus.
Meaning
The sentence means “I need a size up.” It is typically said when trying on clothes and the current size is too small, so you ask the salesperson for the next larger size.
When to use
Use this phrase in a clothing store, boutique, or when ordering online and you realize the size you selected is too tight. It works both in formal and casual contexts, though native speakers often prefer the more colloquial "Je voudrais une taille plus grande."
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilmefautunetailleaudessus.
Impersonal construction "Il faut"
"Il faut" is an impersonal expression meaning "it is necessary"; the subject is always "il" and the verb is followed by an infinitive or a noun phrase.
Indirect object pronoun "me"
"me" is the indirect object pronoun that indicates who needs something; it comes before the verb in the construction "Il me faut…".
Partitive meaning with "une"
The indefinite article "une" introduces the noun "taille" and shows that you need one (unspecified) size.
"au‑dessus" as a comparative phrase
"au‑dessus" literally means "above" and is used idiomatically to mean "one size larger" or "a step up".
🗨In Conversation
Il me faut une taille au‑dessus.
I need a size up.
Bien sûr, voici le même modèle en taille M.
Sure, here’s the same model in size M.
✕Common Mistakes
Il faut moi une taille au‑dessus.
The indirect object pronoun must precede the verb: "Il me faut", not "Il faut moi".
Il me faut une taille au dessus.
The comparative phrase requires a hyphen: "au‑dessus".
Il me faut une taille au‑dessus de.
Adding "de" creates a different construction ("a size above of"), which is ungrammatical here.
↔Alternatives
J'ai besoin d'une taille supérieure.
I need a larger size.
Je voudrais une taille plus grande.
I would like a bigger size.
Je prends une taille au‑dessus.
I'll take a size up.
Cultural Tip
In French retail, "Il me faut…" sounds a bit formal; most shoppers say "Je voudrais…" or "J'ai besoin de…". Also, remember to keep the hyphen in "au‑dessus" – dropping it is a common spelling error that can change the meaning.