“Clothes” and “clothing” are referred to as vêtements in French. Learning French clothing vocabulary is crucial for effective communication in fashion-related contexts. Understanding fabric types and key fashion phrases enhances your ability to shop confidently and engage in everyday conversations about style. Mastering this vocabulary bridges cultural gaps and enriches your fashion experience.
Key Takeaways
- Learn to use simple words you’d use when chatting with a friend, and avoid complicated or formal vocab that feels stiff.
- Learn to write short sentences to keep things clear & easy to follow. and no one likes reading a wall of text.
- Learn how you can use short forms to avoid contractions such as “don’t” instead of “do not” to sound relaxed & natural.
- Know about directly talking to your reader with “you” & “we,” making it feel like a real conversation, not a lecture.
- You can practice how some sentences you use without being afraid to break some grammar rules if it helps you sound friendly & approachable, like starting sentences with “and” or “but.”
French Clothing Vocabulary for Men
Here’s a table with essential clothing items for men in French, including their singular and plural forms:
| English | French (Singular) | French (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Shirt | une chemise | des chemises |
| Trousers | un pantalon | des pantalons |
| Suit | un costume | des costumes |
| Tie | une cravate | des cravates |
| Sweater | un pull | des pulls |
| Belt | une ceinture | des ceintures |
| Shoes | une chaussure | des chaussures |
French Clothing Vocabulary for Women
Here’s a table with essential clothing items for women in French, including their singular and plural forms:
| English | French (Singular) | French (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Dress | une robe | des robes |
| Blouse | un chemisier | des chemisiers |
| Skirt | une jupe | des jupes |
| Scarf | un foulard | des foulards |
| Handbag | un sac à main | des sacs à main |
| Shoe | une chaussure | des chaussures |
| Necklace | un collier | des colliers |
| Tights | un collant | des collants |
Unisex Clothing in French
Here’s a table with essential clothing items for both men and women in French, including their singular and plural forms:
| English | French (Singular) | French (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirt | un tee-shirt | des tee-shirts |
| Jeans | un jean | des jeans |
| Hoodie | un sweat à capuche | des sweats à capuche |
| Sweater | un pull | des pulls |
| Hat | un chapeau | des chapeaux |
| Shorts | un short | des shorts |
| Sunglasses | des lunettes de soleil | des lunettes de soleil |
Essential French Verbs for Buying and Sizing Clothing, and Getting Dressed
| Verb | Infinitive | Present | Past (Passé Composé) | Future | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy | acheter | j’achète | j’ai acheté | j’achèterai | J’achète une robe. (I am buying a dress.) |
| Try on | essayer | j’essaie | j’ai essayé | j’essaierai | J’essaie le pantalon. (I am trying on the trousers.) |
| Wear | porter | je porte | j’ai porté | je porterai | Je porte un manteau. (I am wearing a coat.) |
| Choose | choisir | je choisis | j’ai choisi | je choisirai | Je choisis cette veste. (I am choosing this jacket.) |
| Fit | aller | ça va | – | ça ira | Ce pantalon me va bien. (These trousers fit me well.) |
| Pay | payer | je paie | j’ai payé | je paierai | Je paie à la caisse. (I am paying at the checkout.) |
| Change | changer | je change | j’ai changé | je changerai | Je change de vêtements. (I am changing clothes.) |
| Undress | se déshabiller | je me déshabille | je me suis déshabillé(e) | je me déshabillerai | Je me déshabille avant de dormir. (I undress before sleeping.) |
| Dress | s’habiller | je m’habille | je me suis habillé(e) | je m’habillerai | Je m’habille pour sortir. (I am getting dressed to go out.) |
| Wash | laver | je lave | j’ai lavé | je laverai | Je lave mes vêtements. (I am washing my clothes.) |
Common Clothing Phrases in French
| English Phrase | French Phrase |
|---|---|
| How much does this cost? | Combien ça coûte ? |
| Do you have this in my size? | Avez-vous ceci à ma taille ? |
| Can I try this on? | Puis-je l’essayer ? |
| I’m looking for a jacket. | Je cherche une veste. |
| Does this come in other colours? | Est-ce que ça existe en d’autres couleurs ? |
| Where is the changing room? | Où est la cabine d’essayage ? |
| I’d like to buy this. | Je voudrais acheter ceci. |
| It’s too big/small. | C’est trop grand/petit. |
| Do you have this in a smaller size? | Avez-vous ceci en plus petite taille ? |
| Is there a discount on this item? | Y a-t-il une réduction sur cet article ? |
Outerwear Clothing in French
| English | French (Singular) | French (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Coat | un manteau | des manteaux |
| Jacket | une veste | des vestes |
| Raincoat | un imperméable | des imperméables |
| Parka | une parka | des parkas |
| Blazer | un blazer | des blazers |
| Windbreaker | un coupe-vent | des coupe-vents |
| Overcoat | un pardessus | des pardessus |
| Poncho | un poncho | des ponchos |
| Trench-coat | un trench | des trenchs |
| Cape | une cape | des capes |
French Shoe Names
| English | French (Singular) | French (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Shoe | une chaussure | des chaussures |
| Boot | une botte | des bottes |
| Sneaker | une basket | des baskets |
| Sandal | une sandale | des sandales |
| Loafer | un mocassin | des mocassins |
| High heel | un talon haut | des talons hauts |
| Slipper | un chausson | des chaussons |
| Flip-flop | une tong | des tongs |
| Ankle boot | une bottine | des bottines |
| Espadrille | une espadrille | des espadrilles |
Vocab Giving You Trouble? Let’s Fix That!
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Clothing-Related French Idioms
Learning idiomatic expressions related to clothing can greatly enhance your French language skills. These idioms add richness to conversations and help you understand the cultural nuances behind the language. Below are some common French clothing-related idioms, their meanings, and usage examples.
| Idiom | Literal Translation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Être bien dans sa peau | To be comfortable in one’s skin | To feel good about oneself | Elle est bien dans sa peau. (She is comfortable with herself.) |
| Être sur son 31 | To be on one’s 31 | To be dressed to the nines | Elle est sur son 31 pour le mariage. (She is dressed to the nines for the wedding.) |
| Prendre des gants | To take gloves | To be careful in dealing with someone | Il prend des gants pour lui parler. (He handles her with care.) |
| Faire la manche | To do the sleeve | To beg | Il fait la manche dans la rue. (He begs on the street.) |
| Donner le coup de grâce | To give the mercy blow | To finish something off | Ce commentaire a donné le coup de grâce. (That comment finished it off.) |
| Remonter les bretelles à quelqu’un | To pull someone’s suspenders | To reprimand someone | Le patron lui a remonté les bretelles. (The boss reprimanded him.) |
| Avoir la frite | To have the fry | To be in great shape | Aujourd’hui, j’ai la frite ! (Today, I’m in great shape!) |
| Jeter l’éponge | To throw in the sponge | To give up | Il a finalement jeté l’éponge. (He finally gave up.) |
Conclusion
Mastering French clothing vocabulary is essential for enhancing your language skills and confidently navigating fashion-related conversations. By practicing and applying these terms in real-life situations, you’ll improve your fluency and cultural understanding, making your interactions more effective and enjoyable.
French fashion has shaped global trends with its elegance and innovation. Explore its timeless impact on style at French Fashion and its Global Influence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the French word for fashion?
Ans: The French word for fashion is la mode. It encompasses everything from clothing trends to accessories and lifestyle choices. At La Forêt French Class, we embrace la mode by offering stylish pieces that reflect the latest trends in French fashion. Discover your perfect style with us.
2. What is the French slang word for clothing?
Ans: The French slang word for clothing is les fringues. This term is commonly used in casual conversations to refer to clothes in a trendy or informal way. We hope that your everyday fringues are always fashionable, combining comfort with the latest styles.
3. How do you describe French fashion?
Ans: French fashion is often described as chic, effortless, and timeless. It blends classic pieces with modern trends, emphasizing quality over quantity.
