Key takeaways
- The word for clothes in French is les vêtements (plural). For a single item, use un vêtement or the specific item name. French clothing nouns are gendered: le pull (the sweater, masculine), la robe (the dress, feminine).
- French uses different words for similar items that English does not distinguish: le pantalon is trousers/pants (always singular in French even for one pair), le jean specifically refers to denim jeans, and le short is shorts.
- Shopping phrases in French require knowing key questions: Quelle est ma taille? (What is my size?), Avez-vous ça en [couleur]? (Do you have this in [color]?), Est-ce que je peux l’essayer? (Can I try it on?).
- French sizing differs from both UK and US sizing. In France, women’s clothing uses sizes 34-46 (US 2-14), and men’s suits are measured in chest circumference in centimetres.
Clothing vocabulary in French is some of the most immediately practical vocabulary a learner needs, whether for shopping in Paris, understanding a French film, or describing what someone is wearing. France is the birthplace of haute couture, and French fashion terminology is used across the global industry, making this vocabulary useful well beyond France itself.
The gap between recognizing a word on a vocabulary list and using it naturally in a boutique or market conversation is closed through practice with real speakers. italki connects you with French teachers who can run shopping roleplay sessions so you can navigate a French clothing store or describe your style naturally.
This guide covers everyday clothing items in French, formal and occasion wear, accessories and footwear, fabrics and materials, and the essential phrases for shopping for clothes in French.
A French tutor can practice wardrobe descriptions and shopping dialogues with you, from asking for your size to understanding the assistant’s suggestions, so clothing vocabulary becomes active rather than just recognized.
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Everyday clothing items in French
| French | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| le t-shirt | masculine | t-shirt |
| le jean | masculine | jeans |
| le pantalon | masculine | trousers / pants |
| le short | masculine | shorts |
| la jupe | feminine | skirt |
| la robe | feminine | dress |
| le pull | masculine | sweater / jumper |
| le sweat(shirt) | masculine | sweatshirt |
| la veste | feminine | jacket |
| le manteau | masculine | coat |
| l’anorak (m) | masculine | anorak / parka |
| le pyjama | masculine | pyjamas |
| le sous-vêtement | masculine | underwear |
| le soutien-gorge | masculine | bra |
| le collant | masculine | tights |
| les chaussettes (f) | feminine (pl) | socks |
Usage notes:
- Le pantalon is grammatically singular in French even though it refers to both legs: Mon pantalon est bleu (My trousers are blue, not are blue).
- Le jean refers specifically to denim jeans. For a pair of jeans, French speakers often say un jean or mon jean.
Formal and occasion wear
| French | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| le costume | masculine | suit (men’s) |
| le tailleur | masculine | suit (women’s) |
| la chemise | feminine | shirt (formal, with buttons) |
| le chemisier | masculine | blouse |
| la cravate | feminine | tie |
| le noeud papillon | masculine | bow tie |
| le smoking | masculine | tuxedo / dinner jacket |
| la robe de soirée | feminine | evening gown |
| la robe de mariée | feminine | wedding dress |
| le blazer | masculine | blazer |
| le cardigan | masculine | cardigan |
| la veste de costume | feminine | suit jacket |
Register notes:
- Élégant(e) (elegant) and habillé(e) (dressed up / formal) are the adjectives used when describing formal clothing: une tenue habillée (a formal outfit).
- La tenue means outfit or attire and is used in context: tenue de soirée (evening attire), tenue décontractée (casual attire).
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Accessories and footwear
| French | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| les chaussures (f) | feminine (pl) | shoes |
| les baskets (f) | feminine (pl) | trainers / sneakers |
| les talons (m) | masculine (pl) | heels |
| les bottes (f) | feminine (pl) | boots |
| les sandales (f) | feminine (pl) | sandals |
| le sac | masculine | bag |
| le sac à main | masculine | handbag |
| le sac à dos | masculine | backpack |
| la ceinture | feminine | belt |
| le chapeau | masculine | hat |
| la casquette | feminine | cap |
| l’écharpe (f) | feminine | scarf |
| les gants (m) | masculine (pl) | gloves |
| les lunettes (f) | feminine (pl) | glasses / sunglasses |
| les lunettes de soleil (f) | feminine (pl) | sunglasses |
| la montre | feminine | watch |
| le bijou / les bijoux | masculine | jewellery |
| le collier | masculine | necklace |
| le bracelet | masculine | bracelet |
| les boucles d’oreilles (f) | feminine (pl) | earrings |
A private French teacher can teach you how to describe outfits naturally, combining clothing items, colors, and accessories in real sentences the way a native speaker would.
Fabrics and materials
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| le coton | cotton | une chemise en coton (a cotton shirt) |
| la laine | wool | un pull en laine (a wool sweater) |
| la soie | silk | une robe en soie (a silk dress) |
| le lin | linen | un pantalon en lin (linen trousers) |
| le cuir | leather | une veste en cuir (a leather jacket) |
| le daim | suede | des chaussures en daim (suede shoes) |
| le velours | velvet | un manteau en velours (a velvet coat) |
| le polyester | polyester | un t-shirt en polyester (a polyester t-shirt) |
| la dentelle | lace | une robe en dentelle (a lace dress) |
| le denim | denim | un jean en denim (a denim jacket) |
| la fourrure | fur | un manteau en fourrure (a fur coat) |
The preposition en is used to describe what something is made of: en coton, en laine, en cuir. This pattern never changes regardless of gender: un sac en cuir (a leather bag), une veste en cuir (a leather jacket).
For how to ask questions about fabrics, availability, and prices in French stores, the guide to French question words covers Quel, Comment, Combien, and the other question structures used throughout shopping conversations.
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Shopping for clothes in French
Key questions and phrases:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Quelle est ma taille? | What is my size? |
| Je fais du [size number]. | I am a size [number]. |
| Avez-vous ça en [color/size]? | Do you have this in [color/size]? |
| Est-ce que je peux l’essayer? | Can I try it on? |
| La cabine d’essayage est où? | Where is the fitting room? |
| Ça me va bien? | Does it suit me? |
| C’est trop grand / trop petit. | It is too big / too small. |
| C’est trop long / trop court. | It is too long / too short. |
| Je le/la prends. | I will take it. |
| Combien ça coûte? | How much does it cost? |
| Avez-vous quelque chose de moins cher? | Do you have something cheaper? |
| Où sont les soldes? | Where are the sales? |
| C’est en solde? | Is it on sale? |
Describing what you are looking for:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je cherche un pull chaud. | I am looking for a warm sweater. |
| Je voudrais une robe élégante. | I would like an elegant dress. |
| Je cherche quelque chose de décontracté. | I am looking for something casual. |
| Vous avez ça dans d’autres couleurs? | Do you have this in other colors? |
For how French home and lifestyle vocabulary connects to clothing in everyday conversation, the guide to furniture in French covers the domestic French vocabulary that learners use alongside clothing in describing daily life.
Practice French fashion vocabulary with a teacher
Clothing vocabulary connects to a wide range of French conversations: shopping, describing people, talking about your style, watching fashion coverage, and understanding French culture. Building fluency with it requires producing sentences spontaneously, not just recognizing words.
With 30,000+ tutors on italki, there are French teachers who use real-world scenarios including shopping, markets, and style descriptions to build active vocabulary. Book a trial lesson and ask your teacher to run a boutique or market roleplay: you are shopping, the teacher plays the assistant, and you practice every question, size request, and complaint in natural French conversation.
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Build real French confidence with personalized lessons from a teacher who can help with speaking, exam prep, grammar, and pronunciation.
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FAQ
How do you say I am looking for… in French?
Use Je cherche… followed by what you are looking for: Je cherche un manteau chaud (I am looking for a warm coat). A more formal version is Je recherche… which is used in formal settings. In a shop, Je cherche is natural and common.
How do you say clothes in French?
The general word for clothes is les vêtements (plural). For clothing as a category, you can say les habits (less formal) or la tenue (outfit). When referring to a single piece of clothing, use the specific item name: un pantalon (trousers), une robe (a dress).
How do French sizes work for clothing?
French women’s clothing uses sizes 34-46. A French 36 is approximately a UK 8 / US 4. Men’s casual clothing uses S/M/L/XL. Men’s suits and formal shirts use chest measurements in centimetres. Shoe sizes follow the European standard (EU), which differs from both UK and US sizing.
How do you ask to try something on in French?
Say Est-ce que je peux l’essayer? (Can I try it on?) or simply Je peux essayer? in casual contexts. The fitting room is la cabine d’essayage. If you want to ask where the fitting rooms are: Où sont les cabines d’essayage?
What is the difference between la veste and le manteau in French?
La veste is a jacket: a shorter outerwear garment, typically worn indoors or in mild weather. Le manteau is a coat: longer, heavier, and worn for cold weather. L’anorak or le blouson are used for casual outdoor jackets. Le blazer is specifically a blazer or sport coat in a formal context.
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