Vocabulary · Everyday life
Clothes in English
A1
Clothes in English: tops, trousers and skirts, shoes and accessories, British and American words like trousers and pants, and useful verbs like wear and try on. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Upper body
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| shirt(n.)“I wear a white shirt.” | a top with buttons and a collar | /ʃɜːt/ |
| t-shirt(n.) | a light top with short sleeves | /ˈtiːʃɜːt/ |
| sweater / jumper(n.) | a warm top made of wool | /ˈswetə/ |
| hoodie(n.) | a warm top that covers your head | /ˈhʊdi/ |
| jacket(n.) | a short coat | /ˈdʒækɪt/ |
| coat(n.) | a long warm layer for outside | /kəʊt/ |
| dress(n.) | a skirt and top in one piece | /dres/ |
Lower body
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| trousers / pants(n.) | clothes that cover each leg separately | /ˈtraʊzəz/ |
| jeans(n.) | trousers made of strong blue cotton | /dʒiːnz/ |
| shorts(n.) | trousers that stop above the knee | /ʃɔːts/ |
| skirt(n.) | clothing that hangs from the waist | /skɜːt/ |
| leggings(n.) | tight, stretchy trousers | /ˈleɡɪŋz/ |
Shoes and accessories
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| shoes(n.) | things you wear on your feet | /ʃuːz/ |
| sneakers / trainers(n.) | sports shoes | /ˈsniːkəz/ |
| boots(n.) | shoes that cover your ankles | /buːts/ |
| socks(n.) | soft things you wear inside shoes | /sɒks/ |
| hat(n.) | something you wear on your head | /hæt/ |
| cap(n.) | a sports hat that shades your eyes | /kæp/ |
| scarf(n.) | a long piece of cloth for your neck | /skɑːf/ |
| gloves(n.) | they keep your hands warm | /ɡlʌvz/ |
| belt(n.) | a strip of leather around your waist | /belt/ |
Useful verbs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to wear(v.) | to have clothes on your body | /weə/ |
| to put on(v.) | to get dressed in something | /pʊt ɒn/ |
| to take off(v.) | to remove clothes from your body | /teɪk ɒf/ |
| to try on(v.) | to put clothes on to check the fit | /traɪ ɒn/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
I'm wearing new pants ❌ in the UK: say trousers
In the US, pants means trousers. In the UK, pants means underwear! For trousers in the UK, say trousers.
A trouser ❌: these clothes are always plural
Trousers, jeans, shorts, glasses and scissors are always plural in English, because they have two legs or two parts. For one item, say a pair of trousers. The verb is plural too: My jeans are blue.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Clothes
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
The “Clothes” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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For teachers“Clothes” vocabulary, ready for your lessons
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between pants in British and American English?+
In the US, pants are trousers: long clothes for your legs. In the UK, pants are underwear! For trousers, British people say trousers. Be careful: this mistake can be very funny.
How do you say you like a piece of clothing?+
Say I like this shirt, this dress or this jacket. For something you really like: I love this hoodie! For shoes and trousers, use the plural: I love these shoes.
Is it a trouser or trousers?+
Always trousers, in the plural. For one item, say a pair of trousers or a pair of jeans. It is the same for shorts, glasses and scissors: a pair of shorts.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/clothes
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.