ESL Clothes Vocabulary

Clothes are very important, and the ESL clothes vocabulary on this page will let you talk about them when you meet an English speaker.

This page has a clothes vocabulary list that has lots of words that are about clothes and their definitions. If can learn all the words in the list you will be able to talk about clothes very well. The vocabulary has been made into flashcards that you can download so you can learn the vocabulary at any time. There are plenty of picture flashcards so you can see an illustration of the word. 

The ESL clothes vocabulary has also been included as a recording of the list being spoken. A native English speaker has spoken all the words so that you can hear the correct pronunciation.

Then finally there are three exercises for you to do that will test your knowledge of the ESL clothes vocabulary items. The three exercises are as follows:

• Identify the correct definition of a word.
• Identify the correct meaning of a definition.
• Identify pictures of the vocabulary items.

ESL Clothes Vocabulary List with Definitions

The following list has a lot of ESL clothes vocabulary items for you to learn. Following the list there are some flashcards for you to download with all the vocabulary items. Then there is a recording of the list being spoken by a native English speaker.

Attire: The material which covers the body, also known as clothing. (noun)
Baggy: Clothing which allows for movement. (adjective)
Balaclava: A piece of material which covers the face with breathing holes. (noun)
Belt: A loop of material, often leather, used to keep trousers on tightly. (noun)
Bikini: An item of clothing which is used for sunbathing and swimming. (noun)
Blouse: A shirt worn by a female, usually at special occasions. (noun)
Boot leg: A wide cut leg on a pair of trousers. (adjective)
Boots: Long shoes which cover and support the ankle. (noun)
Boxer shorts: Underwear for men which covers the thigh area. (noun)
Bra: A piece of underwear which covers a woman’s breasts. (noun)
Brand: The name of the maker of a piece of clothing. (noun)
Button: A round object attached to a piece of clothing used for fastening. (noun)
Cap: A round piece of material with a peek worn on the head. (noun)
Cardigan: A knitted jumper which is especially warm. (noun)
Casual: A type of clothing which is fine to wear on most day to day occasions. (adjective)
Cheap: An item which is considered easily affordable. (adjective)
Collar: A sturdy piece of material on a shirt which goes around the neck. (noun)
Costume: An outfit which is often used for a celebration or for dance. (noun)
Cufflinks: Metal objects used to secure a long sleeved shirt around the wrist. (noun)
Deliver: An act of the seller taking the purchased items to the buyer. (verb)
Designer: A type of clothing which tends to be expensive due to its quality. (adjective)
Discount: A reduction in the original price usually displayed as a percentage. (noun)
Ear muffs: Fluffy round pieces of material used to cover the ears in cold weather. (noun)
Expensive: The price of an item or service which is considered to be high value. (adjective)
Fashion: A type of clothing which is popular at the present time. (noun)
Fit: An item of clothing which covers the body evenly. (noun)
Fitting room: A small enclosed space used for trying on clothes. (noun)
Formal: An outfit which is smart and usually worn for important occasions. (adjective)
Gloves: A piece of material made to fit over the hands for warmth. (noun)
Hanger: A horizontal piece of material used for holding clothes. (noun)
Hat: A piece of material which covers the head. (noun)
Hoodie: A jumper with a hood which often has a zipped front. (noun)
Jeans: A type of trouser which is made from hard wearing material. (noun)
Kit: An outfit used when playing sport. (noun)
Large: The biggest size for an item of clothing. (adjective)
Leggings: Tightly fitted trousers usually worn by women. (noun)
Loose: Used to describe something which is not tightly fitted. (adjective)
Medium: The middle size available for an item of clothing. (adjective)
Order: The act of informing a store that you wish to reserve an item for purchase. (verb)
Outfit: All of the items of clothing being worn at a given time. (noun)
Pants: A long piece of clothing worn on the legs, often with pockets. (American English) (noun)
Sale: A time when items in a store are lowered for a promotion. (noun)
Scarf: A long thick piece of material wrapped around the neck for warmth. (noun)
Security tag: A device coated in plastic and attached to clothes to prevent theft. (noun)
Shirt: A formal piece of clothing that can be either long or short sleeved. (noun)
Shoes: A piece of hardwearing material which surrounds the foot. (noun)
Shorts: Clothing to go on the legs which is often used when the weather is warm. (noun)
Small: The lowest size possible for an item of clothing. (adjective)
Socks: Thin material open at one end which is worn on the foot for comfort. (noun)
Stock: The amount of a product which the shop has. (noun)
Straight leg: A straight cut on the material used to make trousers. (adjective)
Swimwear: Clothing put onto the body when bathing or swimming. (noun)
Tailored: An item of clothing which is made to suit the body shape of an individual. (adjective)
Thermals: Thin warm clothing worn under smart or casual outfits for extra warmth. (noun)
Tie: A long piece of material which is attached to the collar for a smart appearance. (noun)
Tight: A piece of clothing which is close to the skin of the person who is wearing it. (adjective)
Tights: The elastic material used by females and put onto the legs for fashion or comfort. (noun)
Trousers: A long piece of clothing worn on the legs, often with pockets. (British English) (noun)
T-shirt: Informal clothing that has short sleeves, no collar and is often brightly colored. (noun)
Underwear: The thin clothing worn under everyday clothes for comfort and warmth. (noun)
Vest: A light t-shirt usually worn underneath everyday clothes. (noun)
Waist: The middle of a person’s body. (noun)
Waistcoat: A small light smart piece of material attached around the waist. (noun)
Wardrobe: A large structure often made from wood for keeping clothes in. (noun)
Zip: A metal or plastic device which allows clothes to be opened and closed.  (noun)

Vocabulary Flashcards for Clothes

You can download the following flashcards and print them out so you can take them anywhere with you. Just click on the download link or the picture of the flashcard to download them as a pdf file.

Clothes vocabulary flashcards 

Spoken Clothes Vocabulary

The following recording has the items from the above ESL clothes vocabulary list being spoken by a native speaker. Listen as often as you need to until you can remember the correct pronunciation. Alternatively you can watch the following video with the vocabulary being spoken with the flashcards.

ESL Clothes Vocabulary Exercises

Exercise 1 – Correct Definition

In this first ESL clothes vocabulary exercise you need to decide which of the definitions (A-D) matches the word given in each of the five questions. Once you have finished click the get score button to see how you did.

ESL Clothes Vocabulary Definitions

Choose the correct definition for the clothes vocabulary in this quiz.

1) What is the definition of Blouse?

    A) An outfit which is often used for a celebration or for dance.
    B) A piece of material which covers the head.
    C) A shirt worn by a female, usually at special occasions.
    D) A reduction in the original price usually displayed as a percentage.

2) What is the definition of Hoodie?

    A) Tightly fitted trousers usually worn by women.
    B) A straight cut on the material used to make trousers.
    C) Informal clothing that has short sleeves, no collar and is often brightly colored.
    D) A jumper with a hood which often has a zipped front.

3) What is the definition of Swimwear?

    A) Clothing put onto the body when bathing or swimming.
    B) The elastic material used by females and put onto the legs for fashion or comfort.
    C) A type of clothing which is popular at the present time.
    D) A round object attached to a piece of clothing used for fastening.

4) What is the definition of Collar?

    A) A sturdy piece of material on a shirt which goes around the neck.
    B) A shirt worn by a female, usually at special occasions.
    C) A knitted jumper which is especially warm.
    D) An outfit which is smart and usually worn for important occasions.

5) What is the definition of Gloves?

    A) A long thick piece of material wrapped around the neck for warmth.
    B) A piece of material made to fit over the hands for warmth.
    C) A piece of hardwearing material which surrounds the foot.
    D) The thin clothing worn under everyday clothes for comfort and warmth.

Score =

Correct answers:

Exercise 2 – Correct Meaning

In this exercise you need to decide which of the clothes vocabulary words (A-D) in each question matches the definition given. Click the get score button to show the answers and see your score.

ESL Clothes Vocabulary Identification of Meaning

Choose the word that matches the definition given in each of the five questions in this quiz.

1) What is the meaning of the following definition: A large structure often made from wood for keeping clothes in?

    A) Wardrobe
    B) Zip
    C) Stock
    D) Tie

2) What is the meaning of the following definition: A device coated in plastic and attached to clothes to prevent theft?

    A) Shirt
    B) Shorts
    C) Security tag
    D) Hanger

3) What is the meaning of the following definition: A small enclosed space used for trying on clothes?

    A) Casual
    B) Ear muffs
    C) Hat
    D) Fitting room

4) What is the meaning of the following definition: A loop of material, often leather, used to keep trousers on tightly?

    A) Belt
    B) Attire
    C) Cheap
    D) Boots

5) What is the meaning of the following definition: Thin material open at one end which is worn on the foot for comfort?

    A) Trousers
    B) Socks
    C) Thermals
    D) Formal

Score =

Correct answers:

Exercise 3 – Identify Picture

In this ESL clothes vocabulary exercise you need to look at the pictures of the vocabulary items below and identify the correct name (A-D) for each item in the five questions. Again, when you have answered all the questions, you can click the get score button to see how you did.

ESL Clothing Vocabulary Picture Descriptions

Identify the best description for each of the images (A-E) given above that correspond to the five questions in this quiz.

1) Which description best describes picture A given above?

    A) Fitting room
    B) Pants
    C) Medium
    D) Button

2) Which description best describes picture B given above?

    A) Hanger
    B) Jeans
    C) Vest
    D) Loose

3) Which description best describes picture C given above?

    A) Shoes
    B) Tight
    C) Shirt
    D) Underwear

4) Which description best describes picture D given above?

    A) Wardrobe
    B) Stock
    C) Bikini
    D) Hanger

5) Which description best describes picture E given above?

    A) Socks
    B) Bra
    C) Casual
    D) Deliver

Score =

Correct answers:

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