Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ropa | /ˈropa/ | feminine |
| ropaje | /roˈpaxe/ | masculine |
| indumentaria | /indumenˈtaɾja/ | feminine |
| indumento | /indumento/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| vestidura | /bestiˈduɾa/ | feminine |
| atuendo | /aˈtwendo/ | masculine |
| atavío | /ataˈbio/ | masculine |
| vestimenta | /bestiˈmenta/ | feminine |
| pilchas | /pilt͡ʃas/ (from spelling rules) | South America, feminine, plural |
The most common and widely used word for "clothing" in Spanish is ropa. While ropa refers to everyday clothing, other terms like indumentaria or vestimenta are used for more formal, technical or collective descriptions of attire. Specifically, vestimenta refers to "attire" or "outfit" and is often used in specialized contexts like dress codes.
Which one should you use?
Use ropa for everyday clothing. In contrast, indumentaria or vestimenta are used for more formal, technical or collective descriptions of attire. For a more literary or descriptive sense, ropaje can refer to a large amount of clothing or a specific type of voluminous garment. Additionally, atuendo is often used to describe a specific outfit or a person's general attire in a more formal or descriptive context than ropa.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or professional contexts, you might use indumentaria or vestimenta. The phrase Prendas de vestir can be used to mean "garments" or "articles of clothing" and is quite formal. In a formal or descriptive context, atuendo is used to describe an outfit or attire.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of South America, such as Argentina and Uruguay, the colloquial term pilchas is used for clothes. In the countries of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, indumentaria is used interchangeably with ropa to refer to clothing. In Spain, the term vestuario may be used to talk about clothing or costumes, especially in theater or film.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ropa is a non-count noun in Spanish, meaning you do not use it in the plural to refer to "clothes".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈropa/
Did you know?
- The English word 'robe' and the Spanish word ropa share a common ancestor in the Proto-Germanic word for a fragment or a piece of cloth.
- In Spain, the word vestuario can refer to the actual clothes or costumes used in a film or play, as well as the locker room where they are kept.
- The phrase prendas de vestir is the standard formal way to refer to individual 'articles of clothing' or 'garments'.
Examples in context
- Cogieron comida y ropa.They took food and clothing.This sentence shows how to use ropa in a simple list.Tatoeba #6692616 by emigonza, translation #802198 by Source_VOA
- Vendo ropa por Internet.I sell clothing online.This sentence illustrates a commercial use of ropa.Tatoeba #1481668 by marcelostockle, translation #844710 by CM
- Tengo un negocio de ropa.I have a clothing company.This sentence shows how to use ropa when talking about a business.Tatoeba #6804891 by arh, translation #8422076 by magnificentgoddess
- ¿Dónde está la tienda de ropa?Where is the clothing store?
- ¿Cuál es la vestimenta adecuada para esta celebración?What is the appropriate attire for this celebration?
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are shopping at a mall.
- Mateo¿Te gusta esta ropa, Lucía?Do you like this clothing, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, es muy bonita.Yes, it is very pretty.
- MateoEntonces, vamos a comprarla.Then, let's buy it.
- Lucía¡Perfecto, Mateo!Perfect, Mateo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clothing” translations and entries ropa, ropaje, indumentaria, indumento, vestidura, atuendo, atavío, vestimenta, pilchas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries indumentaria, indumento, ropa, ropaje, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
