Describing People’s Clothing and Accessories
6.3.1. The Main Idea
To describe what someone is wearing, use the verb porter, meaning to wear or to carry.
Je porte un chapeau. | I am wearing a hat. |
Tu portes une chemise. | You are wearing a shirt. |
Il porte un manteau. | He is wearing a coat. |
Elle porte une robe. | She is wearing a dress. |
6.3.2. The Verb Porter
je porte | I wear / I am wearing |
tu portes | you wear / you are wearing |
il porte | he wears / he is wearing |
elle porte | she wears / she is wearing |
nous portons | we wear / we are wearing |
vous portez | you wear / you are wearing |
ils portent | they wear / they are wearing |
elles portent | they wear / they are wearing |
6.3.3. Clothing
un chapeau | a hat |
une chemise | a shirt |
un t-shirt | a T-shirt |
un pull | a sweater |
un manteau | a coat |
une veste | a jacket |
un pantalon | pants |
un jean | jeans |
une robe | a dress |
une jupe | a skirt |
des chaussures | shoes |
des bottes | boots |
des chaussettes | socks |
6.3.4. Accessories
un accessoire | an accessory |
des accessoires | accessories |
une montre | a watch |
un sac | a bag |
un sac à dos | a backpack |
une ceinture | a belt |
des lunettes | glasses |
des lunettes de soleil | sunglasses |
une écharpe | a scarf |
une casquette | a cap |
un bijou | a piece of jewelry |
des bijoux | jewelry |
6.3.5. Describing Clothing with Colours
Clothing words use colour adjectives. Many colour adjectives change for masculine, feminine, singular, and plural.
un chapeau noir | a black hat |
une chemise blanche | a white shirt |
un manteau bleu | a blue coat |
une robe bleue | a blue dress |
des chaussures noires | black shoes |
des bottes brunes | brown boots |
6.3.6. Describing Clothing with Other Adjectives
un beau chapeau | a beautiful hat |
une belle robe | a beautiful dress |
un petit sac | a small bag |
une grande veste | a large jacket |
un vieux pull | an old sweater |
une nouvelle chemise | a new shirt |
un pantalon confortable | comfortable pants |
des chaussures confortables | comfortable shoes |
6.3.7. Asking What Someone Is Wearing
Tu portes quoi ? | What are you wearing? |
Vous portez quoi ? | What are you wearing? formal or plural |
Qu’est-ce que tu portes ? | What are you wearing? |
Qu’est-ce que vous portez ? | What are you wearing? formal or plural |
Il porte quoi ? | What is he wearing? |
Elle porte quoi ? | What is she wearing? |
6.3.8. Talking About Someone’s Outfit
Il porte un chapeau noir. | He is wearing a black hat. |
Elle porte une robe bleue. | She is wearing a blue dress. |
Il porte un jean et un t-shirt. | He is wearing jeans and a T-shirt. |
Elle porte une veste blanche. | She is wearing a white jacket. |
Je porte mon chapeau. | I am wearing my hat. |
Tu portes ta montre ? | Are you wearing your watch? |
6.3.9. My / Your Clothing
mon chapeau | my hat |
ma chemise | my shirt |
mes chaussures | my shoes |
ton manteau | your coat |
ta veste | your jacket |
tes lunettes | your glasses |
son sac | his / her bag |
sa robe | his / her dress |
ses bottes | his / her boots |
6.3.10. Core Patterns
porter | to wear / to carry |
Je porte ___ . | I am wearing ___ . |
Tu portes ___ ? | Are you wearing ___ ? |
Il porte ___ . | He is wearing ___ . |
Elle porte ___ . | She is wearing ___ . |
Qu’est-ce que tu portes ? | What are you wearing? |
clothing + colour | un chapeau noir, une robe bleue |
6.3.11. Practice
I am wearing a hat. |
I am wearing my hat. |
You are wearing a shirt. informal |
He is wearing a black coat. |
She is wearing a blue dress. |
What are you wearing? informal |
My shoes |
Your glasses |
His / her bag |
6.3.12. Answers
I am wearing a hat. | Je porte un chapeau. |
I am wearing my hat. | Je porte mon chapeau. |
You are wearing a shirt. informal | Tu portes une chemise. |
He is wearing a black coat. | Il porte un manteau noir. |
She is wearing a blue dress. | Elle porte une robe bleue. |
What are you wearing? informal | Qu’est-ce que tu portes ? |
My shoes | mes chaussures |
Your glasses | tes lunettes |
His / her bag | son sac |
6.3.13. Short Dialogue
A : Tu portes quoi aujourd’hui ? | A: What are you wearing today? |
B : Je porte un jean, un t-shirt et mon chapeau. Et toi ? | B: I am wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and my hat. And you? |
A : Je porte une chemise blanche et des chaussures noires. | A: I am wearing a white shirt and black shoes. |
B : Très bien ! | B: Very good! |
6.3.14. Checkpoint
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to name common clothing and accessories, use porter to say what someone is wearing, describe clothing with colours and adjectives, and use possessive articles with clothing items.
6.3.15. Try It Out
Try saying this in French:
What are you wearing?
I’m wearing a black hat.
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Possible answer:
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