German Clothes VocabularyWord List

Expand your wardrobe vocabulary in German, and learn how to describe what you are wearing.


Learning German words related to clothes and fashion can be really useful for expanding one's vocabulary. It can also of course be helpful for communicating with native speakers about these topics - if you have an interest in fashion.

In German, like many other languages, nouns are either masculine, feminine, or neuter. This grammatical gender is not related to the biological gender of the animal, but it does affect the forms of the article and some of the endings of adjectives (for example).

But even if you aren't a fashionista and aren't particularly interested in having a conversation about Tom Ford's latest autumn collection: As a proud & respectable German learner, don't you want to own your very own pair of Lederhosen?

Maybe not. Well, in any case: Knowing some clothes vocabulary in German is pretty useful. Just believe us.

German Clothes Vocabulary

Let's start with the most basic words for German clothes: stuff like shirts, skirts, trousers & jackets.

Of course, we've included die Lederhoseleather trousers in this list: What could be more basic than a solid pair of Bavarian Lederhosen?

die Jacke
jacket
der Pullover
pullover
das Hemd
shirt
die Hose
trousers
die Latzhose
dungarees
der Rock
skirt

One thing to notice is that the German word for trousers is used in the singular: it's "die Hose". You wouldn't normally say "a pair of trousers" in German.

Underwear

The German word for underwear is easy to remember, as it's more or less a direct translation from the English: "die Unterwäsche."

This includes items such as bras for women, which are called "BHs" or "Büstenhalter," and briefs or boxers for men, which are called "Unterhose" or "Boxershorts."

der Strumpf
sock
die Socke (sg.)
sock
die Socken (pl.)
socks
die Strumpfhose
stockings
das Unterhemd
undershirt
die Unterhose
underpants

One more thing to note is that lingerie (or more revealing underwear) is usually referred to as "Dessous" in German.

Shoes & Footwear

In German, "Schuhe" refers to shoes in general. There are many different types of shoes and footwear, and each has its own specific name in German.

For example, "Sneakers" are called "Turnschuhe," "Flip-flops" are called "Badeschuhe," "High heels" are called "High Heels," and "Boots" are called "Stiefel."

Other types of shoes include "Ballerinas," which are ballet flats, "Mokassins," which are loafers, and "Halbschuhe," which are low-cut shoes or loafers.

der Schuh
shoe
der Stiefel
boot
die Sandale
sandal
der Pantoffel
slipper
der Sneaker
sneaker
Schuhe mit Absatz
shoes with high heels

Sandals, slippers & flip-flops are exactly the same in German.

It's worth noting that some of these terms, such as "Sneakers" and "Flip-flops," are loanwords from English and have the same meanings in German.

Winter Clothes

When it comes to staying warm in winter, Germans have a wide range of clothing options to choose from. For outerwear, a popular choice is a "Mantel," which is a coat that falls to the knee or below.

Another option is a Jackejacket - which is the German word for jacket. On exceptionally cold days or a night out at the christmas market, you might be thankful to be wearing a "Daunenjacke" or a "Steppjacke" (puffer jackets filled with down or a synthetic material).

der Mantel
coat
der Regenmantel
raincoat
der Winterstiefel
winter boot
der Schal
scarf
der Handschuh
glove
die Mütze
hat

Other useful words to know when it comes to German winter clothes vocabulary are "der Schal" (scarf), "die Mütze" (hat) and "die Handschuhe (pl.)" (gloves) To keep your feet warm, you might want to be wearing "Stiefel" (boots).

Fabrics

There are many different types of fabrics used in the world of fashion, and each has its own unique properties and characteristics. In German, some common fabric types include

Baumwollecotton,Wollewool, Seidesilk,Leinenlinen & Polyester synthetic fiber.

die Baumwolle
cotton
die Seide
silk
das Leder
leather
das Wildleder
wild leather
die Wolle
wool
der Polyester
polyester

Other fabrics that are commonly used in Germany include Jeansdenim,

Samtvelvet &Lederleather.

German Fabric Patterns

Fabric patterns, such as stripes, polka dots, and plaid, can also be described in German using words like "Streifen," "Karo," and "Glencheck-Muster":

Clothing Parts

der Stoff
fabric
das Material
material
der Ärmel
sleeve
das Hosenbein
leg
der Ausschnitt
neckline
der Kragen
collar


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