Clothes (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Spanish clothing vocabulary
Learning to talk about clothes in Spanish opens up conversations about fashion, shopping, and daily life. This vocabulary will help you describe what you're wearing, discuss your style preferences, and go shopping for clothes.
Basic clothing items (La ropa)
Understanding clothing vocabulary starts with learning the essential items you wear every day. Each item has a specific gender (masculine or feminine) that determines which article (el, la, los, las) you use.
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| el vestido | the dress | la camisa | the shirt |
| el pantalón corto | the shorts | la chaqueta | the jacket |
| el abrigo | the coat | una sudadera con capucha | a hooded jumper |
| un impermeable | a raincoat | el traje | the suit |
| un hiyab | a hijab | el traje de baño | the swimsuit |
| un pijama | pyjamas | unos vaqueros | jeans |
| una camiseta | a T-shirt | la falda | the skirt |
| el jersey | the jumper | la blusa | the blouse |
Example sentences:
- Llevo un vestido azul. (I'm wearing a blue dress.)
- Mi hermano tiene un abrigo nuevo. (My brother has a new coat.)
- Los vaqueros son muy cómodos. (Jeans are very comfortable.)
- En verano uso camisetas. (In summer I wear T-shirts.)
Grammar note: Notice how the article changes depending on gender and number. Masculine singular uses 'el', feminine singular uses 'la', masculine plural uses 'los', and feminine plural uses 'las'.
Accessories (Los accesorios)
Accessories complete an outfit and express personal style. These items are essential for describing a complete look.
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| el cinturón | the belt | un sombrero | a hat |
| el paraguas | the umbrella | un reloj | a watch |
| un anillo | a ring | un collar | a necklace |
| unos pendientes | earrings | unos guantes | gloves |
| unas gafas de sol | sunglasses | una pulsera | a bracelet |
| una gorra | a cap | una bufanda | a scarf |
| el bolso | the bag | las joyas | jewellery |
Example sentences:
- Mi madre lleva un collar de plata. (My mother wears a silver necklace.)
- Necesito un paraguas porque llueve. (I need an umbrella because it's raining.)
- Los guantes son necesarios en invierno. (Gloves are necessary in winter.)
- Llevo gafas de sol en la playa. (I wear sunglasses at the beach.)
Footwear (Los zapatos)
Different occasions call for different types of shoes. This vocabulary helps you describe various footwear options for different situations and weather conditions.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| unas chanclas | flip-flops |
| unas sandalias | sandals |
| unas zapatillas | slippers |
| unas botas | boots |
| unas botas de agua | wellington boots |
| unos tacones | high heels |
| los zapatos | shoes (general term) |
Example sentences:
- En la piscina uso chanclas. (At the pool I wear flip-flops.)
- Las botas son perfectas para el invierno. (Boots are perfect for winter.)
- Mi hermana lleva tacones al trabajo. (My sister wears high heels to work.)
Materials and descriptions
Knowing how to describe what clothes are made of adds detail and sophistication to your descriptions. These terms help you discuss quality, comfort, and appearance.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| algodón | cotton |
| cuero | leather |
| seda | silk |
| oro | gold |
| plata | silver |
| de colores | multicoloured |
| a cuadros | checked |
| a rayas | striped |
Example sentences:
- Mi camisa es de algodón. (My shirt is made of cotton.)
- Los zapatos de cuero son elegantes. (Leather shoes are elegant.)
- Lleva una blusa de seda. (She's wearing a silk blouse.)
Asking about favourite clothes
Learning to discuss clothing preferences helps you have natural conversations about style and fashion. This is essential for building relationships and showing interest in others.
Key question: ¿Cuál es tu prenda favorita? (What is your favourite item of clothing?)
How to respond:
- Mi prenda favorita es... (My favourite item of clothing is...)
- Me gusta mucho... (I really like...)
- Prefiero... (I prefer...)
Example conversation:
- A: ¿Cuál es tu prenda favorita?
- B: Mi prenda favorita es mi suéter rojo. Es un regalo de mi hermana.
(A: What is your favourite item of clothing?) (B: My favourite item of clothing is my red jumper. It's a gift from my sister.)
Useful phrases
These phrases will help you engage in natural conversations about clothing and express your opinions about fashion.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me encanta la moda | I love fashion |
| ¿Qué llevas? | What are you wearing? |
| Llevo... | I'm wearing... |
| Es muy elegante | It's very elegant |
| Es muy cómodo/a | It's very comfortable |
Translation practice
Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- Mi hermana lleva una falda azul y una blusa blanca.
- Los zapatos de tacón son incómodos pero elegantes.
English to Spanish:
- I need a new coat for winter.
- She wears gold earrings every day.
Answers:
- My sister is wearing a blue skirt and a white blouse.
- High heel shoes are uncomfortable but elegant.
- Necesito un abrigo nuevo para el invierno.
- Ella lleva pendientes de oro todos los días.
Common errors and fixes
Error: Using wrong gender articles (e.g., "la vestido") Fix: Remember that "vestido" is masculine, so use "el vestido" Reason: Spanish nouns have fixed genders that must be memorised with their articles
Error: Forgetting plural forms (e.g., "los zapato") Fix: Use "los zapatos" for plural shoes Reason: Both the article and noun must agree in number (singular/plural)
Error: Wrong adjective agreement (e.g., "una camisa rojo") Fix: Use "una camisa roja" Reason: Adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they describe
Key Points to Remember:
- Always learn clothing vocabulary with its correct article (el/la/los/las)
- Adjectives describing clothes must agree in gender and number with the clothing item
- "¿Cuál es tu prenda favorita?" is the key question for discussing favourite clothes
- Materials like algodón, cuero, and seda add useful detail to descriptions
- Practice describing complete outfits to improve your fluency