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How to Say ‘Do you have selvedge denim?’ in Japanese

セルビッチデニムはありますか。

seru bitchi denimu wa ari masu ka

[SEH-roo BEET-chee DEH-nee-moo wah ah-ree mahs kah]

💬 Usage Tip: Swap any item into ___はありますか to ask if a shop stocks it: Sサイズはありますか "Do you have a small?" The は here is said (wa), not (ha).

Phrase Breakdown

セルビッチデニムは

seru bitchi denimu wa

selvedge denim (topic)

'Selvedge denim' plus the topic particle は. Here は is pronounced 'wa'.

Example

セルビッチデニムは高いです。

Selvedge denim is expensive.

Words in this phrase

セル

seru

[SEH-roo]

sel (part of selvedge)

First part of the loanword for selvedge, the self-finished edge of woven fabric.

Example

セルビッチのジーンズが好きです。

I like selvedge jeans.

ビッチ

bitchi

[BEET-chee]

-vedge (part of selvedge)

Second part of the loanword for selvedge; it only has meaning together with セル.

Example

セルビッチは裾で見えます。

You can see the selvedge at the hem.

デニム

denimu

[DEH-nee-moo]

denim

Loanword for the sturdy cotton twill fabric used for jeans.

Example

デニムのジャケットを買いました。

I bought a denim jacket.

は

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

ありますか。

ari masu ka

do you have (it)?

あります means 'there is / to have' for things. か makes it a question.

Example

水はありますか。

Do you have water?

Words in this phrase

あり

ari

[ah-ree]

there is; have

Stem of ある, used for existence of things or to ask if something is available.

Example

パンフレットがあります。

There are pamphlets.

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite verb ending

A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.

Example

予約を確認します。

I will confirm the reservation.

か

[kah]

question marker

Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Example

A席はありますか。

Are there A seats available?

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