How to Talk About Clothes in French: Vocabulary and Useful Phrases

In this lesson, we are going to see how to talk about clothes in French.

If you ever find yourself on a shopping spree in France, being able to describe accurately what you want will save you time and money! It’s also a very good ice-breaker in French conversation with locals.

When shopping, you need to learn a few key French verbs to be able to communicate with the shop attendants. People working in clothing stores may ask lots of questions ; therefore it’s a good idea to understand these verbs.

• Aller bien/mal à quelqu’un = to suit someone nicely/badly
• Enlever = to take off
• Enfiler = to slip into / to put on
• Essayer des vêtements = to try clothes
• S’habiller = to get dressed
• Se déshabiller = to get undressed
• Laver des vêtements = to wash clothes
• Mettre = to put on
• Porter = to wear

The French word for a piece of clothing is “un vêtement” (masculine). However, clothes are usually used in plural: “les vêtements“. When we talk about an outfit, we say “une tenue”. In slang, you’ll often hear “les fringues”. Let’s see more in details some more key vocabulary.

Key clothing items in French

• Une chemise = a shirt
• Un costume = a suit
• Une jupe = a skirt
• Un haut = a top
• Un manteau = a coat
• Un pantalon = pants
• Un pull = a sweater
• Une robe = a dress
• Un short = shorts
• Un survêtement = a tracksuit
• Une veste = a coat / a jacket

Useful clothing phrases in conversation

• La taille = the size
• La pointure = the shoe size
• Quelle est votre taille / votre pointure ? = What’s your size / shoe size ?
• Je fais du 36/38/40.. ou du S/M/L.. = I’m size 36/38/40 (for clothes and shoes)
• Je chausse du 39/40/41.. = I’m size 39/40/41 (only for the shoes)

Knowing a few words of French lingerie can make you avoid some embarrassing moments. You will find below some practical terms for French underwear and beachwear.

Underwear terms

• Des bas = pantyhose
• Un body = a bodysuit
• Un boxer / un caleçon = men’s brief
• Des chaussettes = socks
• Des collants = stockings
• Une culotte = women’s panty
• Un soutien-gorge = a bra
• Un slip = underwear
• Un string = a thong

At the beach

• Un maillot de bain une pièce = a one-piece swimsuit
• Un maillot de bain deux pièces ou bikini = a bikini
• Un short de bain = swimming shorts

Although French women love their high-heels, the use of comfortable shoes can sometimes be vital ! Let’s see the different types of footwear in France.

• Des ballerines = ballerinas
• Des baskets ou des tennis = runners / sneakers
• Des bottes = boots
• Des chaussures de marche ou de randonnée = hiking shoes
• Des chaussures plates = flat shoes
• Des mocassins = loafers
• Des sandales = sandals
• Des talons aiguilles / des talons hauts / des escarpins = high-heels
• Des tongs = flip-flops

If you’d like to complete your look with some trendy accessories, read on !

Different hats in French

• Un béret = a beret
• Un bonnet = a winter hat
• Une casquette = a cap
• Un chapeau = a hat

Other accessories

• Une ceinture = a belt
• Une écharpe = a scarf
• Un foulard = a headscarf
• Des gants = gloves
• Des lunettes  = glasses
• Des lunettes de soleil = sunglasses
• Un sac = a bag
• Un sac a dos = a backpack
• Un sac à main = a handbag

The French language is full of idioms, including many French idioms with colours or references to food. Clothing is no exception, as you’ll discover below.

• Ca te/vous va comme un gant = (it fits you like a glove) it suits/fits you very well
• Changer d’avis comme de chemise = (change opinion as a shirt) to often change your mind
• Etre sur son trente-et-un = (to be on your 31st) to be very elegant/well dressed
• N’avoir rien à se mettre = to have nothing to wear
• Se prendre une veste = (to take oneself a jacket) to come a cropper
• Se serrer la ceinture = to tighten the belt
• Trouver chaussure à son pied = (to find the shoe for your foot) to find the right partner