Les vêtements or les habits are the French equivalent words for clothes. In slang vocabulary, the word les fringues is mostly used. Learning all things about clothing in French language can be very handy as it might help you in different situations. For instance, in shopping for your favorite fashion clothes, complimenting someone's outfit, describing a suspect's clothes during a police investigation, or even talking about your favorite ways of dressing.
In this lesson, I will be sharing a vocabulary list of common clothes in the French language. Unisex clothes like le pantalon, le short or la veste can be worn by women as well as men.
For a quick navigation
Everyday clothes terms with pictures
Clothing accessories in French (Les accessoires)
Common verbs used with clothes
Common adjectives related to clothes
Clothes patterns and fabric names
Practice your clothes vocabulary
Everyday clothes terms with pictures
Below is a list of casual clothes for everyday wear, and useful garments for taking to the bathroom or to bed.
une chemise : a shirt
un pantalon : pants
un tee-shirt : a T-shirt
un jean : jeans
un haut : a top
un chemisier : a blouse
un costume: a suit
une veste : a jacket
un short : a short
une tunique : a tunic
une robe : a dress
une jupe : a skirt
un pyjama : a pajama
une robe de nuit : a nightgown
une serviette : a towel
un peignoir : a robe, a bathrobe
Underwear terms in French
I guess that the word most known by foreigners for underwear in French is la lingerie. However, underwear is generally called in French "les sous-vêtements". Another term commonly used is "les dessous". Here are a few underwear words with their translation in English.
Un slip, une culotte : panties (US), knickers(UK)
un string: a thong
un caleçon : underpants
un soutien gorge: a bra
un débardeur: a tank top (US), a vest top (UK)
un bustier : a bustier, a tube top
des collants (m) : tights
Clothing accessories in French (les accessoires)
Clothes are best matched with accessories like earrings, necklaces, … Here is a vocabulary list for les accessoires de vêtements en français. The gender of the noun is indicated with the letter (f) which stands for feminine and (m) for masculine.
des boucles d'oreille (f): earrings
une bague: a ring
un collier: necklace
une écharpe: a scarf (for the neck)
un porte-monnaie: a purse
un porte-feuille: a wallet
des gants (m): gloves
une ceinture: a belt
un sac à main: a handbag
une montre : a watch
un chapeau : a hat
une veste: a jacket
des chaussures (f): shoes
des chaussettes (f ): socks
un foulard: a scarf (for the head)
des lunettes: glasses, spectacles
des socquettes (f): ankle socks
Seasonal Clothing words
Seasonal clothes are the outfits you would wear during the different seasons of the year: summer, winter clothes, or those rainy weather. Here are the names of common seasonal clothing.