Buying guides by country · 8 October 2026 · 3 min read

German short and long sizes: what 19 or 76 means

German size 19 is a short size: the width of a 38, cut for a shorter body. How Kurzgrößen and Langgrößen work, and what they mean for kameez and sleeve lengths.

Inspiration

The short answer

German size 19 is a short size, a Kurzgröße. It has the same bust, waist and hip widths as a normal German 38 but is proportioned for a shorter body, with a shorter back, shorter sleeves and a shorter leg. Long sizes, Langgrößen, work the other way: 76 is a 38 cut for a taller body.

The rule is easy to remember. Halve a normal size to get its short size, and double it to get its long size. So a Kurzgröße 20 is a normal 40, and a Langgröße 76 is a normal 38. Some shops add a K or an L to the normal number instead, but the idea is the same.

The three ranges side by side

Every German short and long size maps back to a normal size of the same width.

Normal 36: short 18, long 72.
Normal 38: short 19, long 76.
Normal 40: short 20, long 80.
Normal 42: short 21, long 84.
Normal 44: short 22, long 88.
Normal 46: short 23, long 92.

What changes, and what does not

Width stays the same within each column; height is what changes. A short size moves everything that runs up and down: the waist sits higher, the armhole is a little shallower, and the sleeves and legs are shorter. A long size does the reverse. That is exactly the information a kameez needs, and exactly what a plain size number cannot carry.

If you wear short or long sizes in Germany, the widths on our form will look familiar but the lengths are where most of your choices sit. A Kurzgröße wearer who orders a standard-length kameez usually finds the waist shaping too low and the sleeves too long; a Langgröße wearer finds the opposite.

Turning it into kameez measurements

Rather than translating the size, measure the lengths directly. These are the lines on our form that do the work of a short or long size; the size guide shows where each one runs.

Kameez length: from the top of the shoulder by the neck to where you want the hem. Our guide to kameez length for your height helps you choose.
Sleeve length: from the shoulder point to where the sleeve should end, arm relaxed.
Trouser length: from the natural waist down the side of the leg.
Armhole and front neck depth: both move with the length of your torso.
Height: optional on our form, but it helps us check that the lengths make sense together.

Petite and tall in practice

For short sizes, measuring for a petite frame explains the depths that matter. For long sizes, custom lengths for tall women covers longer kameez and trousers, and if you plan to send an unstitched suit, check first whether it has enough cloth; our article on a suit that is short of fabric explains the options.

The Germany page covers delivery and quote currency, and Stitching Only in Germany explains sending your own fabric. When your lengths are ready, request a quote.

Common questions

Is a Kurzgröße only for small sizes?

No. Short and long sizes describe height and proportion, not width, so a short size can be slim or full. A Kurzgröße 23 is the width of a normal 46, cut for a shorter body.

Can I just tell you I wear a 19?

It helps us picture your proportions, but please send measurements too. Brands draft their short sizes differently, and your own lengths are what we cut to.

Do short sizes change the trousers as well?

On German labels, yes: the leg and the rise are shorter. On our form, your trouser length covers the leg, and a note about your rise helps if trousers usually sit too high or too low on you.

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