Talking About Clothes in French
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to describe what you or someone else is wearing, as well as how to talk about buying new clothes. You’ll also learn the difference between neuf and nouveau — two French words that both mean “new,” but are used in slightly different ways.
Sentence Builder: Talking About What You’re Wearing
To say “I wear” or “I’m wearing”, use the verb porter (to wear).
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je porte… | I wear / I’m wearing… |
| Il porte… | He wears / He’s wearing… |
| Elle porte… | She wears / She’s wearing… |
Examples:
- Je porte un jean et une chemise. – I’m wearing jeans and a shirt.
- Il porte un pull chaud. – He’s wearing a warm jumper.
- Elle porte un pantalon et des chaussures. – She’s wearing trousers and shoes.
Grammar Tip: Singular vs Plural in French and English
In English, some clothes are always plural, such as trousers, shorts, or glasses.
In French, these words are usually singular — unless there are actually two of them!
✅ un pantalon → trousers (singular in French)
✅ un short → shorts (singular in French)
✅ des chaussures → shoes (plural, because there are two!)
Talking About Buying Clothes
To say you or someone else has bought something, use the past tense of acheter (to buy):
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Il a acheté… | He has bought… |
| Elle a acheté… | She has bought… |
Examples:
- Il a acheté un nouveau costume pour son mariage.
→ He has bought a new suit for his wedding. - Elle a acheté une nouvelle jupe pour le week-end.
→ She has bought a new skirt for the weekend.
Grammar Tip: Neuf vs Nouveau — What’s the Difference?
Both neuf and nouveau mean “new”, but they don’t mean the same kind of new.
Here’s how to tell them apart:
| Word | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| neuf / neuve | brand new, recently made or unused | une voiture neuve | a brand new car |
| nouveau / nouvelle | new to the owner or situation, but not necessarily new in condition | une nouvelle voiture | a new (to me) car |
So:
- un costume neuf → a brand new suit (just bought, never worn)
- un nouveau costume → a new suit (for a new occasion, but not necessarily brand new)
Forms of “neuf”
| Masculine | Feminine | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| neuf | neuve | neufs | neuves |
✅ un costume neuf – a brand new suit
✅ une jupe neuve – a brand new skirt
✅ des chaussures neuves – brand new shoes
Try It Yourself
Provide the French for the following phrases.
Question 1
She is wearing a brand new dress.
Question 2
He has bought new shoes.
Question 3
I am wearing trousers and a shirt.
Question 4
She is wearing a warm jumper.
Cultural Note: Fashion and Everyday Style in France
Fashion plays an important part in French culture. Even for everyday wear, people often aim for simple mais chic — simple but stylish.
Words like un pull, un jean, and des chaussures élégantes come up frequently in conversation when describing what people wear for work or outings.
France, of course, is renowned for its high fashion (la mode), and nowhere more so than in Paris.
It is home to many famous fashion designers including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Balmain, Christian Louboutin, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent, Roger Vivier, Thierry Mugler, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermès, Lanvin, Chloé, Rochas, and Céline – to name just a few!
