Clothing in Spanish

Whether you’re shopping in one of your favorite clothing stores or dropping off clothes to be washed at a local lavandería (laundromat), conversations about clothing are sure to come up in a variety of Spanish conversations. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have some of these key vocabulary terms under your belt.

Basic Clothing Vocabulary

You can start by learning some of this basic vocabulary for everyday clothing items. Keep in mind, though, that although these terms are universal, many areas of Spain or Latin America have their own regionalisms.

la ropa	clothing
la camisa	button up shirt
la camiseta	T-shirt
la camiseta sin mangas	tank top
los pantalones	pants
los jeans/vaqueros	jeans
los pantalones cortos	shorts
la falda	skirt
el vestido	dress
la ropa interior	undergarments
los calzoncillos	underwear
el sujetador/el brasier	bra
las medias	tights
los calcetines	socks
la chaqueta	jacket
el suéter/la sudadera	sweater, sweatshirt
el abrigo	coat
bathing suit	el traje de baño
los zapatos	shoes
los tenis	tennis shoes
las botas	boots
los zapatillas	slippers
las sandalias	sandals
las chanclas	flip-flops

Fabric, Clothing Parts & Other Adjectives

There may be times when you will have to describe a clothing item that you are looking for in both design, style and material. These are the most common terms you may need in this situation.

estar de moda	to be in style
el/la diseñador/a	designer
el cierre/la cremallera	zipper
el boton	button
el estampado	pattern
de rayas	striped
de cuadros	checkered
la tela	fabric
de cuero/piel	leather
de algodón	cotton
de lana	wool
de seda	silk
los probadores	dressing rooms
talla chica	small size
talla mediana	medium size
talla grande	large size
apretado/a	tight
grande	big/loose

You may also want to learn vocabulary for colors in Spanish for discussing the colors of clothing.

Dress Code and Formal Attire in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Generally speaking, people in Latin America dress more formally than Spaniards, who tend to dress more casually on a day to day basis. This is especially true in major Latin American cities where businessmen and women dress formally for work and events. Further, Latin American weddings are extravagant affairs. It is common for guests to arrive in tuxedos and formal gowns so it’s a good idea to check with the bride and groom about the preferred attire if you are attending a wedding. Here are a few terms to know when referring to formal dress.

el vestido de gala	gown
el traje	suit
la corbata	tie
el esmoquin	tuxedo
el chaleco	vest
los tacones	high heels

Clothing Accessories and Jewelry

Both men and women love accessorising their outfits. Make sure to memorize some of the items that you use the most!

los accesorios	accessories
el reloj	watch
el cinturón	belt
el gorro	cap
el sombrero	hat
las joyas	jewelry
los aretes/los pendientes	earrings
el anillo	ring
el collar	necklace
la pulsera/el brazalete	bracelet
la bufanda	scarf
los guantes	gloves

Useful Verbs When Talking About Clothes

When shopping, you only need to learn a few key verbs to be able to communicate with the shop attendants. People working in clothing stores are normally very helpful and ask lots of questions so it’s a good idea to understand these common verbs.

quedarle → to fit
Example: La falda no me queda bien. → The skirt doesn’t fit me well.
Example: Este vestido me queda apretado. → This dress is too tight.

probarse → to try on (clothing)
Example: Me gustaría probarme estos pantalones. → I would like to try on these pants.

ponerse→ to put on (clothing)
Example: Ponte el sueter, hace frío. → Put on your sweater, it’s cold.

quitarse → to take off
Example: Quítate los zapatos hijo. → Take off your shoes son.

Useful Expressions When Talking About Clothing

Here are some other common expressions you may need when shopping, taking your clothes to be laundered or inquiring about dress code. Remember, when you are invited to an event in a Spanish-speaking country, it’s best to ask for clarification of the appropriate attire.

¿Dónde se encuentran los vestidos?	Where are the dresses (found)?
¿Podrías lavar esta ropa?	Could you wash these clothes?
¿Podrías lavar en seco esta chaqueta?	Could could you dry clean this jacket?
¿Es necesario vestirse de traje y corbata?	Is it necessary to wear a suit and tie?
¿Cuáles son las reglas de vestuario?	What is the dress code?
¿Estoy vestido/a correctamente?	Am I dressed appropriately?

With these vocabulary words and expressions you will be completely prepared for any situation revolving around talking about clothes in Spanish.