Published on May 5, 2025

French clothing vocabulary: A comprehensive guide
Being able to talk about clothes in French is essential, whether youâre a fashion lover, a language learner or (just as likely) both.

Mastering French clothing vocabulary can help you navigate shopping experiences more confidently â whether online or in stores â and participate more naturally in everyday conversations.
This vocabulary guide provides all the necessary words for discussing clothing in French, including key nouns, verbs and practical phrases. Youâll also find some authentic French idioms and cultural insights into how French people view fashion and clothing.
- Essential French clothing vocabulary
- Clothing-related verbs and phrases
- French idioms and expressions related to clothing
- Fashion and clothing in French society
- FAQs
Essential French clothing vocabulary
In the tables below, youâll find the words commonly used to talk about clothes in French.
General terms for clothingÂ
French | English | Pronunciation tips |
les vĂȘtements (masculine) | clothes | The âvĂȘâ sounds like âveh,â with a nasal “-ment” |
la mode | fashion | With an open âoâ sound |
les accessoires (masculine) | fashion accessories | The “oi” in accessoires is pronounced “wa” (ak-se-swar) |
le magasin de vĂȘtements | clothing shop | The â-sinâ at the end of magasin is pronounced âz[in]â |
la garde-robe | wardrobe | The second half of this word (robe) is pronounced with an open âoâ sound |
Everyday clothing itemsÂ
French | English | Pronunciation tips |
le pull | sweater | With the typical French âuâ sound |
le tee-shirt | T-shirt | Pronounced like in English |
le pantalon | trousers | Pay attention to the nasal âonâ sound |
la jupe | skirt | With the typical French âuâ sound |
le short | shorts | With an open “o” sound; the final “t” is pronounced |
OuterwearÂ
French | English | Pronunciation tips |
la veste | jacket | The âeâ is pronounced the same way as in âbedâ |
le manteau | coat | The âeauâ is a closed âoâ sound |
le bonnet | wooly hat | With a closed âoâ sound |
lâĂ©charpe | scarf | The “ch” is pronounced like “sh” in English |
les gants | gloves | The “g” is hard and followed by a nasal âanâ sound |
FootwearÂ
French | English | Pronunciation tips |
les chaussures (feminine) | shoes | The âauâ is a closed âoâ sound |
les baskets (feminine) | sneakers/trainers | The âtâ is pronounced but the âsâ is silent |
les bottes (feminine) | boots | With an open âoâ sound |
les sandales (feminine) | sandals | The final “es” is silent |
les talons hauts (masculine) | high heels | The “au” is a closed “o” sound; the “ts” in hauts is silent |
AccessoriesÂ
French | English | Pronunciation tips |
le sac | bag | The âcâ is pronounced âkâ |
les bijoux (masculine) | jewelry | The “x” is silent (bee-joo) |
le foulard | scarf | The âdâ is silent |
le maquillage | makeup | Pronounced “ma-key-yazh” |
le chapeau | hat | The “eau” is a closed “o” sound (sha-po) |
Underwear and nightwearÂ
French | English | Pronunciation tips |
les sous-vĂȘtements | underwear | The second âsâ in sous is silent |
le soutien-gorge | bra | The âenâ in soutien is pronounced as âinâ |
le slip | pants/panties | The final “p” is pronounced |
le pyjama | pajamas | The “j” is pronounced like “zh,” not “dj” as in English |
le peignoir | robe/dressing gown | The first “g” is silent, and “oi” is pronounced “wa” |

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Clothing-related verbs and phrases
To put your new clothes vocabulary into practice, youâll need some verbs and phrases. Letâs see whatâs in store!
Common verbsÂ
French | English | Examples |
sâhabiller | to dress up | Habille-toi vite ! (Get dressed quickly!) |
porter | to wear | Elle porte ma veste. (Sheâs wearing my jacket.) |
mettre | to put on | Je mets mes chaussures. (Iâm putting my shoes on.) |
laver | to wash | Tu devrais laver ton pull. (You should wash your sweater.) |
faire ses lacets | to tie one’s shoelaces | Je fais mes lacets. (Iâm tying my shoelaces.) |
Useful phrases for shoppingÂ
French | English |
Auriez-vous ceci en taille [âŠ] ? | Would you have this in size [âŠ]? |
Je fais du [âŠ]. | Iâm size […] (for clothes) |
Je chausse du […]. | Iâm size [âŠ] (for shoes) |
OĂč sont les cabines dâessayage? | Where are the fitting rooms? |
Câest trop grand. | Itâs too big. |
Câest trop petit. | Itâs too small. |
Câest trop serrĂ©. | Itâs too tight. |
Combien ça coûte ? | How much does it cost? |
Je le/la prends. | Iâll take it. |
Ăa te va bien. | That looks good on you. |
What our students of French say
French idioms and expressions related to clothing
Thereâs nothing like mastering idioms to help you sound fluent. In French, many idioms incorporate vocabulary about clothing. Here are some examples:
Idiom in French | Equivalent idiom or translation in English |
Câest bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet. | Six of one, half a dozen of the other. (literally, “It’s white hat and hat white.”) |
se serrer la ceinture | to economize (literally, âto tighten oneâs beltâ) |
trouver chaussure Ă son pied | to find the right person (literally, “to find a shoe for one’s foot”) |
changer dâavis comme de chemise | to change one’s mind frequently (literally, “to change opinion as often as a shirt”) |
Câest dans la poche. | It’s in the bag. (literally, âItâs assured of success.â) |
se mettre sur son trente-et-un | to dress up elegantly (literally, “to be on your 31st”) |
se prendre une veste | to suffer a defeat, especially in elections (literally, “to take a jacket”) |
Want to test out using these idioms in everyday conversation? We recommend putting it all into practice in Lingodaâs online French classes.
Fashion and clothing in French society
Here are a few insights about Franceâs long legacy of fashion-forward thought and how French people generally feel about fashion and clothing:
- The béret, one of the biggest fashion clichés about France, is rarely worn by French people nowadays (with the exception of some elderly men).
- Paris has a long-standing reputation as a global fashion capital. This is reflected in the number of French words loaned to other languages, including haute couture, prĂȘt-Ă -porter and chic.
- The famously classy Parisian style can also be found in other major cities, such as Lyon and Marseille. However, it’s worth noting that not all French people are so stereotypically stylish.
- French clothing tends to be quite understated. If someone wears a very colorful outfit or a distinctive hairstyle in an everyday setting, they might attract amused or surprised glances.
- French people tend to be conscious of the environmental impact of clothing. The second-hand clothing market is booming thanks to the emergence of online platforms and vide-dressing pop-ups (clothing swap/sale events where people bring clothes they no longer want to exchange for other items).
What is the French word for clothing?
The French word for clothing is les vĂȘtements or les habits.
How do you say âdressâ in French?
In French, âa dressâ is une robe (with an open âoâ sound).
How do you say âswimsuitâ in French?
In French, âa swimsuitâ is un maillot de bain (with a silent âtâ).
Ready to dress your French up?
Being able to talk about clothes in French will help you in many situations, whether you’re shopping or engaging in conversation with French speakers. From essential everyday terms to clothing-related expressions and idioms, this comprehensive guide has equipped you with key vocabulary to enhance your fluency in French.
As always, Lingoda is here to help you put it into practice. Our French classes in small groups with native-level teachers are exactly what you need to speak with confidence.

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