CLOTHES - FRENCH VOCABULARY TESTING GUIDE

 85 cards | 9 sub-topics | all 4 skills tested

INTRODUCTION

Who doesn't know Paris, you know, the famous fashion icon? Hmm, Paris...  Hilton? Nope, I'm not talking about the celebrity. I'm referring to Paris, the capital of France, also known worldwide as the fashion capital. Whether you agree or not, you certainly acknowledge that some of the biggest fashion brands in the world (Coco Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, etc.) originate from France. But today we're not discussing designer clothes here. Instead, I'm going to share with you the most common French names representing clothing items


As you expand your French vocabulary chest, I strongly suggest that while studying or reviewing these words you mix and use 2 or 3 vocabulary themes whenever possible. For example, it will be a good idea to add this current theme (clothes) to the one on colors. This way you can make short phrases such as Je mets une cravate bleue (I'm putting on a blue tie), or des jupes violettes (purple skirts), etc.

Now let's see what are the French clothes word list in the following.

1. DIFFERENT WORDS FOR {CLOTHES} IN FRENCH

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french clothing item

1. un vêtement

Item of clothing

Ce vêtement est sale./ This clothing item is dirty.

french clothes

2. des vêtements

Clothes

Ces vêtements sont beaux./ These clothes are beautiful.

french clothing item

3. un habit

Item of clothing

Elle porte des habits neufs./ She is wearing new clothes.

french-uniform

4. un uniforme

Uniform

J'aime ton uniforme de travail./ I like your work uniform.

french-outfit-dress

5. une tenue

Outfit; Uniform

Ta tenue de soirée est magnifique./ Your party dress is magnificent.

french-secondhand-clothin

6. une fripe

Second-hand clothing

Ces fripes ont l'air toutes neuves./ These second-hand clothes look brand-new.

french-clothing

7. un habillement

Clothing; Dress

Ce type d'habillement n'est pas autorisé./ This type pf clothing is not allowed.

french-strange-outfit

8. un accoutrement

(Strange) clothing

Elle refuse d'aller à la fête dans un tel accoutrement./ She won't go to the party in this bizarre attire.

2. FOOTWEAR (chaussures)

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french boots

9. des bottes (f.)

Boots

Je porte mes bottes de neige en hiver./ I put on my snow boots in winter.

french shoes

10. des chaussures (f.)

Shoes

Combien coûtent ces chaussures?/ How much do these shoes cost?

french casual shoes vocabulary

11. les chaussures décontractées

casual shoes

Les chaussures décontractées ne sont pas autorisées au bureau./ Casual shoes are not authorized at the office.

french dress shoes vocabulary

12. des chaussures habillées (f.)

Dress shoes

Des chaussures habillées pour hommes./ Men's dress shoes.

french slippers pantoufles vocabulary

13.

des pantoufles (f.)

Slippers; Indoor shoes

Elle met ses pantoufles de laine./ She is wearing her woolen slippers.

french sandals vocabulary

14.

des sandales (f.)

Sandals

Ces sandales en cuir sont très populaires en été./ These leather sandals are very popular this summer.

french tennis shoes vocabulary

15.

des tennis (m.)

Sneakers; Tennis shoes

Vos tennis sont très à la mode./ Your sneakers are very fashionable.

french basket shoes vocabulary

16.

des baskets (f.)

Basketball shoes; Sneakers

Je mets mes baskets pour l'entraînement./ I put on my basketball shoes for the practice session.

french high heels talons hauts

17.

des talons hauts

High heels

Je veux ces talons hauts sexy./ I want these sexy high heels.

french mocassins loafers vocabulary

18.

des mocassins (m.)

Loafers

Porte-t-il des mocassins ou des bottes?/ Is he wearing loafers or boots?

french spikes soccer shoes crampons

19. des chaussures à crampons

Spikes

Le footballeur met ses chaussures à crampons./ The soccer player puts on his spikes.

french flip flops tongs

20. des tongs (m.)

Flip-flops; Thongs (AUS)

Ces tongs sont vraiment confortables./ These flip-flops are really comfy.

3. TOPS (Les Hauts)

3.1 Common tops word list

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french-shirt chemise vocabulary

21. une chemise

Shirt

Une chemise neuve./ A new shirt.

french-clothing tee shirt vocabulary

22. un T-shirt

T-shirt

Ce t-shirt te va bien./ This t-shirt fits you nicely.

french blouse chemisier vocabulary

23. un chemisier

Blouse

J'aime beaucoup ton chemisier rose./ I really like your pink blouse.

french tanktop debardeur vocabulary

24.

un débardeur

Tank top

Elle porte un débardeur./ She is wearing a tank top.

french crop top haut court vocabulary

25. un haut court

Crop top

Ce haut court paraît un peu indécent pour l'occasion./ This crop top looks a bit vulgar for the occasion.

french bustier tube top vocabulary

26.

un bustier

Tube top

Le bustier moulait ses formes parfaitement./ The tube top hugged her contours perfectly.

french pull sweater vocabulary

27.

un pull(-over)

Sweater

Il fait froid; mets ton pull!/ It is cold; put on your sweater.

french cardigan vocabulary

28.

un cardigan

Cardigan

Mon cardigan m'est utile quand il fait frais./ My cardigan is useful when it's chilly.

french sweatshirt vocabulary

29.

un sweat-shirt

Sweatshirt

Je mets mon sweat-shirt à l'entraînement./ I put on my sweatshirt at the practice.

french jacket blouson

30.

un blouson

Jacket

Le motard enfile son blouson./ The biker puts on his jacket.

french jacket vocabulary

31. une veste

Jacket

Cette veste te va très bien./ This jacket fits you very nicely.

3.2 Neck styles

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french v neck

32.

un pull à col en V

V-neck sweater

J'aime ce pull à col en V./ I like this V-neck.

french turtleneck vocabulary

33. un pull à col roulé

Turtleneck sweater

Elle vient d'acheter un pull à col roulé pour l'hiver./ She's just bought a turtleneck sweater for winter.

french dos nu halter top

34. un dos-nu

Halter (neck) top

Tu vas avoir froid dans ce dos nu./ You're going to be too cold in this halter top.

4. BOTTOMS (Les Bas)

4.1 Usual Pants/Trousers

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french jeans vocabulary

35. un jean

Jeans

Les jeans sont interdits dans cette compagnie./ Jeans are forbidden in this company.

french pants trousers pantalon vocabulary

36. un pantalon

Pants; Trousers

Ce pantalon est trop long./ These pants are too long.

french shorts short

37. un short

Shorts

Je n'ai pas de short de plage./I don't have any beach shorts.

french-skirt jupe vocabulary

38. une jupe

Skirt

La danseuse porte une jupe blanche. / The dancer is wearing a white skirt.

4.2 Tight clothing worn on feet

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french-leggings

39. un legging

Leggings

Ce legging est un peu trop révélateur./ These leggings are a bit too revealing.

french stockings bas vocabulary

40. un bas

Stocking

Elle met des bas même en été./ She wears stockings even in summer.

french socks chaussettes vocabulary

41. une chaussette

Sock

Mes chaussettes sont mouillées./ My socks are wet.

french-leggings

42. un collant

Tights

Elle a mis un collant sous sa jupe à cause du froid./ She put on tights under her skirt because of the cold.

5. UNDERGARMENTS

5.1 Undergarments worn by both sexes

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

43. un caleçon long

Long johns

N'oublie pas tes caleçons longs pour l'hiver./ Don't forget your long johns for winter.

french bikini

44. un bikini de corde

String bikini

Il ne se sent pas confortable dans un bikini de corde./ He doesn't feel comfortable in a string bikini.

french thong string

45. un string

Thong

Adèle refuse de mettre un string à la plage./Adele refuses to wear a string at the beach.

5.2 Men's undergarments

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french boxers vocabulary

46. un caleçon (boxeur)

Boxer shorts

Thomas ne porte que des caleçons./ Thomas only wears boxer shorts.

french brief slip vocabulary

47. un slip

Briefs

Son mari préfère les slips aux caleçons./ Her husband prefers briefs over boxers.

french suspensoir jockstrap

48. un suspensoir

Jockstrap

Le suspensoir soutient l'aine des athlètes./ The jockstrap support the athlets' groins.

5.3 Women's undergarments

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french soutien gorge bra

49. un soutien-gorge

Bra

Ce soutien-gorge n'est pas la bonne taille./ This bra isn't the right size.

french culotte panties undies vocabulary

50. une culotte

Panties; Undies

Adèle s'est acheté de nouvelles culottes./ Adele bought some new panties.

french boyshort shorty vocabulary

51. un shorty

Boyshort

Ma copine trouve les shortys assez confortables./ My girlfriend find boyshorts quite comfortable.

6. PROFESSIONAL OUTFIT

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french suit costume vocabulary

52. un costume

(Men's) Suit

Les costumes noirs sont exigés pour la cérémonie./ Black suits are required for the ceremony.

french costume trois pieces

53. un costume trois pièces

Three-piece suit

Ce costume trois pièces vous va bien./ This three-piece suit fits you well.

french tailleur women suit

54. un tailleur

(Women's) Suit

Elle met son tailleur habituel pour le travail./ She puts on her usual suit for work.

french tailleur pantalon pants suit

55. un tailleur-pantalon

Pant suit

J'adore ton tailleur-pantalon./ I love your pant suit.

7. SLEEPWEAR

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french babydoll nuisette

56. une nuisette

Babydoll

Elle met sa nuisette beige avant de se coucher./ She puts on her beige babydoll before sleeping.

adult onesie pyjama combinaison

57. un pyjama combinaison

Adult onesie

Ce pyjama combinaison a l'air confortable./ This adult onesie looks comfy.

french negligee negligé vocabulary

58. un négligé

Negligee

Combien coûte ce négligé?/How much is this negligee?

french chemise

59. une chemise

Chemise

je porte une chemise pour dormir./ I put on a chemise to sleep.

french-caraml-color-vocabulary

60. une robe de chambre

Nightgown

Avez-vous une robe de chambre dans cette taille?/ Do you have a nightgown in this size?

french-caraml-color-vocabulary

61. un pyjama

Pajamas; Pyjamas

N'oublie pas ton pyjama./ Don't forget your pyjamas.

french-caraml-color-vocabulary

62. un bonnet de nuit

Nightcap

Mémé met toujours un bonnet de nuit au lit./ Grandma always puts on a nightcap to bed.

peignoir bathrobe french vocabulary

63. un peignoir

Peignoir; Bathrobe

J'ai oublié mon peignoir au sauna./ I forgot my peignoir at the sauna.

french babydoll nuisette

64. une chemise de nuit

Nightshirt

Léa a oublié de laver sa chemise de nuit./ Lea forgot to wash her nightshirt.

8. ONE-PIECE CLOTHING ITEMS

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french dress robe vocabulary

65. une robe

Dress

Ta robe est trop longue./ Your dress is too long.

french overalls salopette vocabulary

66. une salopette

Overalls

Ma salopette est sale./ My overalls is dirty.

french coat manteau

67. un manteau

Coat

Je mets mon manteau quand il neige./ I put on my coat when it snows.

french leotard justeaucorps

68. un justeaucorps

Leotard

La ballerine porte un justeaucorps./ I put on my coat when it snows.

french swimsuit maillot de bain

69. un maillot de bain

Swimsuit

J'ai hâte de mettre mon nouveau maillot de bain en été./ I can't wait to put on my new swimsuit in summer.

french raincoat impermeable

70. un imper(méable)

Raincoat

Je mets mon imper car il pleut./ I put on my raincoat because it's raining.

9. ACCESSORIES

french-english-vocabulary-translation

FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french necktie cravate vocabulary

71. une cravate

Necktie

Il ne sait pas nouer sa cravate./He doesn't know how to tie his tie.

french necklace collier vocabulary

72. un collier

Necklace

Mon collier est assorti à mon bracelet./ My necklace matches my bracelet.

french bijoux jewelry

73. des bijoux

Jewelry

Ces bijoux sont de la pacotille./ This jewelry is fake.

french earring boucle d'oreille

74. une boucle d'oreille

Earring

J'ai perdu ma boucle d'oreille./ I lost my earring.

french watch montre

75. une montre

Watch

Cette montre est une Rolex./ This watch is a Rolex.

french ring bague

76. une bague

Ring

Cette bague en diamant coûte cher./ This diamond ring is pricey.

french belt ceinture

77. une ceinture

Belt

C'est une ceinture en cuir./ This is a leather belt.

french foulard headscarf vocabulary

78. un foulard

Headscarf

Ce foulard aux motifs fleuris est beau./ This headscarf with flower pattern is beautiful.

french echarpe scarf vocabulary

79. une écharpe

(Neck) Scarf

Je veux acheter cette écharpe./ I want to buy this scarf.

french handbag sac a main

80. un sac à main

Handbag

Ce sac à main Coco Chanel est très cher./ This Coco Chanel handbag is very expensive.

french sunglasses lunettes de soleil

81. des lunettes de soleil

Sunglasses

Je mets mes lunettes de soleil à la plage./ I put on my sunglasses at the beach.

french gloves gants vocabulary

82. un gant

Glove

Mais où sont tes gants?/ But where are your gloves?

french hat chapeau vocabulary

83. un chapeau

Hat

Les chapeaux ne sont pas autorisés dans l'église./ Hats are not allowed in the church.

french casquette cap

84. une casquette

Hat

Le jeune homme avait une casquette./ The young man was wearing a cap.

frenchbow tie noeud papillon

85. un noeud papillon

Bow tie

Le marié porte un noeud papillon blanc./ The groom is wearing a white bow tie.


The French clothing word list I just presented above is far from complete by any measure. But it definitely includes some of the most frequent vocabulary words you will ever encounter in your daily interactions. 

Along with these words, you will generally find verbs denoting the action of putting on/wearing a piece of clothing. In French, there exists about a dozen or more of verb expressing that idea. 

I'm thinking about verbs such as se vêtir, s'habiller, enfiler, se nipper, se fagoter, s'accoutrer, se pomponner, and several others. I will be sure to create in the future a lesson on them and show how you can expand your French vocabulary aptitudes fast through substitution. 

I hope you find this content useful. Merci et à bientôt!

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