Chapter 27: Clothing Vocabulary

Introduction: Dressing Up (or Down)

Being able to name common items of clothing (de kleding) is useful for shopping, describing people, and talking about what you're wearing.

Common Clothing Items

Tops:
het T-shirt = T-shirt
het hemd = shirt (can be undershirt or dress shirt)
het overhemd = shirt (specifically outer shirt, dress shirt)
de trui = sweater, jumper, pullover
de blouse = blouse (typically for women)

Bottoms:
de broek = trousers, pants
de spijkerbroek = jeans (literally "nail trousers")
de rok = skirt

Dresses:
de jurk = dress

Outerwear:
de jas = coat, jacket
de regenjas = raincoat

Footwear:
de schoen (plural: de schoenen) = shoe(s)
de laars (plural: de laarzen) = boot(s)
de sok (plural: de sokken) = sock(s)

Accessories:
de hoed = hat (usually with a brim)
de pet = cap
de sjaal = scarf
de handschoen (plural: de handschoenen) = glove(s)
de riem = belt
de bril = glasses (eyeglasses)
de zonnebril = sunglasses

Useful Verbs Related to Clothing

dragen = to wear
Ik draag een rode trui. (I am wearing a red sweater.)
Wat draag jij vandaag? (What are you wearing today?)
aantrekken = to put on (clothes)
Hij trekt zijn schoenen aan. (He puts his shoes on.) - Note: This is a separable verb, aan goes to the end in simple sentences.
uittrekken = to take off (clothes)
Zij trekt haar jas uit. (She takes her coat off.) - Also separable.
passen = to fit / to try on
Deze broek past goed. (These trousers fit well.)
Mag ik deze trui passen? (May I try on this sweater?)

Describing Clothes

Combine clothing vocabulary with colours and other adjectives:

een zwarte broek (black trousers)
de nieuwe schoenen (the new shoes)
mijn oude jas (my old coat)
een mooie blauwe jurk (a beautiful blue dress)

Learn the names for common clothing items. Practice describing what you and others are wearing using colours and the verb dragen. Remember that most clothing items are de-words, but het T-shirt and het hemd/overhemd are exceptions.