Shopping, fashion and current trends play an important part in everyday life for many. Practise using language to discuss shopping and fashion, speak with shop assistants and understand advertising.
Spain has had a lot of success in the fashion industry thanks to designers and high-street shops that have conquered the international fashion market. Spanish models have also contributed to Spain's worldwide reputation for fashion.
Here is some useful vocabulary to start talking about clothes:
el abrigo | coat |
los calcetines | socks |
la camisa | shirt |
la camiseta | t-shirt |
el chandal | tracksuit |
la chaqueta | jacket |
la corbata | tie |
la falda | skirt |
la gorra | cap |
los pantalones (cortos) | trousers (shorts) |
la ropa | clothes |
los vaqueros | jeans |
el vestido | dress |
las zapatillas de deporte | trainers |
los zapatos | shoes |
An important verb is llevar (to wear). To say that something suits or doesn't suit you, use me queda bien/mal. Here are some other words to describe clothes:
apretado/a | tight |
casual | casual |
corto/a | short |
de marca/de diseño | designer |
de moda | fashionable |
elegante | elegant/stylish |
flojo/a | baggy |
formal | formal |
grande | big |
(in)cómodo/a | (un)comfortable |
largo/a | long |
mediano/a | medium |
pequeño/a | small |
caro/a | expensive |
barato/a | cheap |
If you are describing the colour (el color) of an item of clothing, you can add vivo/a (bright), claro/a (light), oscuro/a (dark) and pálido/a (pale) to add extra detail. Note that the colour does not agree with the noun if you use the words claro or oscuro to further describe the colour: los vaqueros azul claro, la falda verde oscuro.
Read the descriptions and match to the correct person.
Lleva una camisa azul claro, una corbata y una chaqueta oscura.
D. He is wearing a light blue shirt, a tie and a dark jacket.
Lleva unos pantalones cortos azules, una camiseta floja y unas zapatillas de deporte.
B. He is wearing blue shorts, a baggy t-shirt and trainers.
Lleva unos vaqueros, una camiseta blanca y un abrigo rojo vivo.
A. She is wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a bright red coat.
Lleva una falda negra, una chaqueta negra, una camiseta amarilla y unos zapatos negros.
C. She is wearing a black skirt, a black jacket, a yellow t-shirt and black shoes.