Learning how to say “wear” in French is essential when trying to communicate about clothing and fashion in the language. In this guide, we will explore different ways to express “wear” in both formal and informal contexts, providing tips, examples, and even regional variations. So let’s dive in and expand your French vocabulary!
Table of Contents
1. Formal Ways to Say “Wear” in French
When it comes to formal situations, such as speaking to your superiors, use these phrases:
“Porter” – This is the most common and versatile term for “wear” in French. You can use it in almost any context, whether it’s about wearing clothes, accessories, or even carrying something. For example:
Je porte une robe élégante ce soir. (I am wearing an elegant dress tonight.)
“Revêtir” – This term is more formal and carries a sense of putting on attire or garments with a certain purpose or ceremony. It’s often used in written or official contexts. For example:
Il revêt le costume traditionnel chaque année pour la fête. (He wears the traditional costume every year for the celebration.)
“Endosser” – This word is specifically used to convey the idea of donning or assuming a role or uniform, indicating a temporary or symbolic change of appearance. For example:
Il endosse son uniforme de pompier avec fierté. (He proudly wears his firefighter uniform.)
2. Informal Ways to Say “Wear” in French
For casual conversations and everyday situations, you can use these informal expressions:
“Mettre” – While it primarily means “to put,” “mettre” is commonly used in French to mean “to wear” in a casual context. It works well when talking about everyday clothing. For example:
Je vais mettre ma veste noire préférée ce soir. (I’m going to wear my favorite black jacket tonight.)
“Porter” – Yes, the same term used in the formal context, “porter” can also be used informally. However, its usage is more common in formal situations. For example:
Elle porte toujours des jupes longues en été. (She always wears long skirts in the summer.)
3. Regional Variations
French is spoken in various countries around the world, which means there can be regional differences in vocabulary. While “porter” is universally understood, some regions may have their own informal ways to say “wear.” For instance:
In Canadian French, you might hear the term “wearer” or “oùarring” used to mean “wear.” For example:
Il est oùarring une chemise à carreaux. (He is wearing a plaid shirt.)
4. Tips to Remember
When using expressions related to “wear” in French, keep these tips in mind:
- Unlike in English, French uses the verb “to have” (avoir) instead of “to wear” when talking about accessories. For instance, “to wear glasses” is expressed as “avoir des lunettes,” which literally means “to have glasses.”
- If you want to be more specific about the body part where something is being worn, use the preposition “sur” (on). For example, “Il porte une écharpe sur son cou” means “He wears a scarf around his neck.”
- Remember to match the verb with the correct pronoun and conjugation. For example, “Je porte” (I wear), “Tu portes” (You wear), “Il/Elle porte” (He/She wears).
By keeping these tips in mind, you will feel more confident when expressing “wear” in French.
5. Examples of Using “Wear” in French
Let’s now look at some examples of sentences using the different expressions for “wear” in French:
Je vais porter un chapeau pour me protéger du soleil. (I’m going to wear a hat to protect myself from the sun.)
Elle adore mettre des chemises à rayures. (She loves wearing striped shirts.)
Nous devons endosser la nouvelle tenue de travail demain. (We have to wear the new uniform tomorrow.)
Il peut revêtir un costume pour la soirée costumée. (He can wear a costume for the costume party.)
Il est oùarring ses baskets préférées aujourd’hui. (He is wearing his favorite sneakers today.)
Feel free to use and adapt these examples to suit your own needs in different contexts.
Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you use these expressions, the more natural they will become to you.
Now that you have learned various ways to say “wear” in French, you can confidently engage in conversations about clothing and express yourself with ease. Happy learning and bonne chance!
