Last Tuesday I returned to my regular German classes and, oh my, it’s so good to be back. I had never lost touch with the language as all my gadgets, computer, Facebook, Twitter and even some of my friends posts are in German. Anyhow, following a book again, speaking German, making mistakes, having a great teacher to correct me, and interacting with others by using German are things you cannot easily get outside a classroom.

So we’re studying clothes, die Kleidung, and I’d like to share what I’ve learnt so far.

I bet you’ll like it…

As I think nothing is better to memorize new words than looking at a picture, I’ve selected and tagged some photos for you. Note that in German things (i.e. nouns) can be masculine (maskulin), feminine (feminin) or neutral (neutral), that is, they have gender. I’ve color-coded the articles so you can better identify them. Bellow each word you’ll find its plural form; remember: in German, the definite plural article is always die. If you’re wonder what those “crazy” symbols next to each word is, read my post about the IPA, you’ll love it.

Before I start I’d like to introduce you to some verbs:

• anziehen – to dress, to put clothes and accessories on.
• ausziehen – to undress, to take a piece of clothes off.
• tragen – to wear, to have on one’s body as clothing.
• umziehen – to change clothes, to take clothes off and put others on.

Sie trägt eine Winterjacke, eine Hose, Handschuhe und eine Mütze.
She wears a winter jacket, a pair of paints, gloves and a tuque.

 

 

• die Mütze /ˈmʏʦə/
  die Mützen /ˈmʏʦn̩/
• die Winterjacke /ˈvɪntɐˌjakə/
  die Winterjacken /ˈvɪntɐˌjakn̩/
• die Hose /ˈhoːzə/
  die Hosen /ˈhoːzn̩/
• der Handschuh /hantʃuː/
  die Handschuhe /ˈhantˌʃuːə/

 

 

Translation: A. tuque, B. winter jacket, C. pants, D. glove.

Er trägt einen schwarzen Anzug und einen blauen Hemd.
He wears a black suit and a blue shirt.

• die Uhr /uːɐ̯/
  die Uhren /ˈuːʀən/
• der Gürtel /ˈɡʏʁtl̩/
  die Gürtel /ˈɡʏʁtl̩/
• die Jacke /ˈjakə/
  die Jacken /ˈjakn̩/
• das Hemd /hɛmt/
  die Hemden /ˈhɛmdn̩/
• die Krawatte /kʀaˈvatə/
  die Krawatten /kʀaˈvatn̩/
• der Anzug /ˈanʦuːk/
  die Anzüge /ˈanʦyːɡə/
• die Hose /ˈhoːzə/
  die Hosen /ˈhoːzn̩/
• der Schuh /ʃuː/
  die Schuhe /ʃuːə/

Translation: A. watch, B. belt, C. jacket, D. shirt (for men only), E. tie, F. suit, G. pants, H. shoe.

 

Die Frau trägt einen gelben Bikini, eine Sonnenbrille und ein Armband.
The woman wears a yellow bikini, sunglasses and a bracelet.

 

 

• der Bikini /biˈkiːni/
  die Bikinis /biˈkiːnis/
• die Sonnenbrille
  /ˈzɔnənˌbʀɪlə/
  die Sonnenbrillen
  /ˈzɔnənˌbʀɪlən/
• das Armband
  /ˈaʁmˌbant/
  die Armbänder
  /ˈaʁmˌbɛndɐ/

 

 

Translation: A. bikini, B. sun glasses, C. bracelet.

 

Die Sekretärin trägt eine Jacke, einen Rock und Absätze.
The secretary wears a jacket, a skirt and high heels.

 

• die Jacke /ˈjakə/
  die Jacken /ˈjakn̩/
• der Rock /ʀɔk/
  die Röcke /ˈʀœkə/
• die Tasche /ˈtaʃə/
  die Taschen /ˈtaʃn̩/
• der Absatz /ˈapˌzats/
  die Absätze /ˈapˌzɛtsə/
• der Ring /ʀɪŋ/ 
  die Ringe /ˈʀɪŋə/
• der Ohrring /ˈoːɐ̯ˌʀɪŋ/
  die Ohrringe
  /ˈoːɐ̯ˌʀɪŋə/

 

Translation: A. jacket, B. skirt, C. purse, D. high heels, E. ring, F. earring.

Some other garments that you might want to know:

• der BH (Büstenhalter) – bra
• die Bluse – blouse
• die Halskette – necklace
• die Jeans – jeans
• das Kleid – dress
• der Pullover (Pulli) – sweatshirt
• der Rucksack – backpack
• der Schal – scarf
• der Slip – panties
• die Socke – sock
• der Sportschuh – sneaker
• das T-Shirt – T-shirt
• die Unterhose – underpants