French Clothing Vocabulary, Fashion Phrases & Fabric Types

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Written byAmélie Pinon

In today's lesson, we'll look at the world of French fabrics and clothing. 👗

This is an essential French language topic when it comes to discussing fashion, shopping, and understanding various types of materials used in everyday clothing.

By learning the vocabulary for different fabric types and their corresponding gender articles, you'll be better equipped to express your preferences and engage in conversations about textiles in French.

Let's dive in.

How do you say clothing in French?

In French, the word for "clothes" or "clothing" is vêtements.

It's a masculine plural noun and uses the plural definite article les, making it les vêtements.

French clothing vocabulary for men

EnglishFrench SingularFrench Plural
clothesles vêtementsles vêtements
shirtla chemiseles chemises
t-shirtle t-shirtles t-shirts
sweaterle pullles pulls
jacketla vesteles vestes
blazerle blazerles blazers
coatle manteaules manteaux
raincoatl'imperméableles imperméables
trousersle pantalonles pantalons
jeansle jeanles jeans
shortsle shortles shorts
suitle costumeles costumes
tiela cravateles cravates
bow tiele nœud papillonles nœuds papillon
socksla chaussetteles chaussettes
shoesla chaussureles chaussures
sneakersla basketles baskets
bootsla botteles bottes
sandalsla sandaleles sandales
hatle chapeaules chapeaux
capla casquetteles casquettes
beaniele bonnetles bonnets
scarfl'écharpeles écharpes
glovesle gantles gants
beltla ceintureles ceintures
underwearle sous-vêtementles sous-vêtements
boxer shortsle caleçonles caleçons
briefsle sliples slips
pajamasle pyjamales pyjamas
bathrobele peignoirles peignoirs

French clothing vocabulary for women

EnglishFrench SingularFrench Plural
clothesles vêtementsles vêtements
blousele chemisierles chemisiers
t-shirtle t-shirtles t-shirts
sweaterle pullles pulls
cardiganle giletles gilets
jacketla vesteles vestes
coatle manteaules manteaux
raincoatl'imperméableles imperméables
dressla robeles robes
skirtla jupeles jupes
pantsle pantalonles pantalons
jeansle jeanles jeans
shortsle shortles shorts
leggingsle leggingles leggings
suitle tailleurles tailleurs
scarfl'écharpeles écharpes
glovesle gantles gants
hatle chapeaules chapeaux
capla casquetteles casquettes
beaniele bonnetles bonnets
tightsle collantles collants
socksla chaussetteles chaussettes
shoesla chaussureles chaussures
sneakersla basketles baskets
bootsla botteles bottes
sandalsla sandaleles sandales
high heelsl'escarpinles escarpins
underwearla lingeriela lingerie
brale soutien-gorgeles soutiens-gorge
pantiesla culotteles culottes
sliple sliples slips
thongle stringles strings
stockingsle basles bas
nightgownla chemise de nuitles chemises de nuit
pajamasle pyjamales pyjamas
bathrobele peignoirles peignoirs

Essential French verbs for buying and sizing clothing, as well as getting dressed

EnglishFrench InfinitiveFrench PresentFrench PastFrench Future
to wearporterje portej'ai portéje porterai
to put onmettreje metsj'ai misje mettrai
to take offenleverj'enlèvej'ai enlevéj'enlèverai
to dress (oneself)s'habillerje m'habilleje me suis habillé(e)je m'habillerai
to undress (oneself)se déshabillerje me déshabilleje me suis déshabillé(e)je me déshabillerai
to try onessayerj'essaiej'ai essayéj'essaierai
to buttonboutonnerje boutonnej'ai boutonnéje boutonnerai
to unbuttondéboutonnerje déboutonnej'ai déboutonnéje déboutonnerai
to zip (up)fermer (la fermeture éclair)je fermej'ai ferméje fermerai
to unzipouvrir (la fermeture éclair)j'ouvrej'ai ouvertj'ouvrirai
to tienouerje nouej'ai nouéje nouerai
to untiedénouerje dénouej'ai dénouéje dénouerai
to foldplierje pliej'ai pliéje plierai
to unfolddéplierje dépliej'ai dépliéje déplierai
to ironrepasserje repassej'ai repasséje repasserai
to hang upsuspendreje suspendsj'ai suspenduje suspendrai
to washlaverje lavej'ai lavéje laverai
to drysécherje sèchej'ai séchéje sècherai
to buyacheterj'achètej'ai achetéj'achèterai
to sellvendreje vendsj'ai venduje vendrai
to bargain, to hagglemarchanderje marchandej'ai marchandéje marchanderai
to exchange, to tradeéchangerj'échangej'ai échangéj'échangerai
to return (an item)retournerje retournej'ai retournéje retournerai
to sewcoudreje coudsj'ai cousuje coudrai
to knittricoterje tricotej'ai tricotéje tricoterai
to alterretoucherje retouchej'ai retouchéje retoucherai
to adjust (clothing)ajusterj'ajustej'ai ajustéj'ajusterai
to size (clothing)taillerje taillej'ai tailléje taillerai
to measure (clothing)mesurerje mesurej'ai mesuréje mesurerai

Example French dialogue in a clothing store

Here's a sample dialogue between a shopper and an assistant in a French department store:

Assistant: Bonjour, comment puis-je vous aider aujourd'hui?

Shop Assistant: Hello, how can I help you today?

Client: Salut, je cherche une chemise.

Customer: Hi, I'm looking for a shirt.

Assistant: Quelle taille recherchez-vous?

Shop Assistant: What size are you looking for?

Client: Je cherche une taille moyenne.

Customer: I'm looking for a medium.

Assistant: Préférez-vous le coton ou la soie?

Shop Assistant: Do you prefer cotton or silk?

Client: Je préfère le coton.

Customer: I prefer cotton.

Assistant: Nous avons une variété de couleurs et de motifs. Quelle couleur recherchez-vous?

Shop Assistant: We have a variety of colors and patterns. What color are you looking for?

Client: J'aimerais une chemise bleue, s'il vous plaît.

Customer: I'd like a blue shirt, please.

Assistant: Voici une chemise bleue en coton de taille moyenne. Voulez-vous l'essayer?

Shop Assistant: Here's a blue cotton shirt in medium. Would you like to try it on?

Client: Oui, s'il vous plaît. Où sont les cabines d'essayage?

Customer: Yes, please. Where are the fitting rooms?

Assistant: Les cabines d'essayage sont à votre gauche.

Shop Assistant: The fitting rooms are to your left.

Client: Merci.

Customer: Thank you.

Assistant: De rien. Faites-moi savoir si vous avez besoin d'aide.

Shop Assistant: You're welcome. Let me know if you need any assistance.

French fabric types

You'll need to know the different types of fabric in French if you go shopping.

Here's a list:

EnglishFrench SingularFrench Plural
fabricle tissules tissus
cottonle cotonles cotons
silkla soieles soies
woolla laineles laines
linenle linles lins
polyesterle polyesterles polyesters
velvetle veloursles velours
denimle denimles denims
leatherle cuirles cuirs
synthetic fabricle tissu synthétiqueles tissus synthétiques
lacela dentelleles dentelles
satinle satinles satins
chiffonle chiffonles chiffons
cashmerele cachemireles cachemires
rayonla viscoseles viscoses
nylonle nylonles nylons

Conclusion

I hope you've enjoyed my lesson on French clothing and fashion terms.

This should give you a better understanding of the essential vocabulary and verbs related to clothes.

As you become more confident in discussing clothing in French, you'll be able to engage in conversations about fashion, shopping, and even describe your personal style next time you're in France.

Practicing these words and phrases will help solidify your knowledge and make it easier to communicate with native French speakers.

Bonne chance et à bientôt !

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French Clothing Vocabulary, Fashion Phrases & Fabric Types
In this lesson, we'll cover vocabulary for clothing in French, as well as some key French phrases for the fashion industry.
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