indossare
/in.dosˈsa.re/
The English phrase "wear" can be translated into Italian using indossare or portare.
Meaning: to have on (clothes or accessories) (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| indossare | /in.dosˈsa.re/ |
| portare | /porˈta.re/ |
Both words are used to express the act of having clothing or accessories on your body. Indossare specifically refers to wearing items such as clothes, jewelry or accessories. Related to this concept are the nouns abbigliamento (clothing) and usura (damage).
Which one should you use?
Indossare is the more precise term for the act of wearing clothing. In contrast, portare is a very common alternative that can also mean "to carry".
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word indossare is pronounced /in.dosˈsa.re/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use indossare to mean "to wear out" in the sense of causing damage. For physical wear and tear, use usura or consumare instead.
Did you know?
- The noun usura for wear and tear is the same word used for 'usury', the illegal practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
- The word indossare literally translates to 'on the back' because it is built from the preposition 'in' and 'dosso', which means 'back'.
- In Italian, if you want to say you are 'wearing' a certain expression or a smile, you would use portare rather than indossare.
Examples in context
- Vuoi indossare un kimono?Do you want to wear a kimono?This sentence is useful for asking about a preference for wearing a kimono with indossare.Tatoeba #4651202 by Guybrush88, translation #2013494 by CK
- Non ho nulla da indossare.I don't have anything to wear.This sentence is useful for expressing that one has nothing to wear with indossare.Tatoeba #3151778 by Guybrush88, translation #1976118 by CK
- Che cosa dovrei indossare?What would I wear?This sentence is useful for asking a question about what to wear with indossare.Tatoeba #3996591 by Guybrush88, translation #3392976 by CK
- Devi indossare un completo per l'intervista di lavoro.You have to wear a suit for the job interview.
- I ragazzi indossano una camicia per la cerimonia.The boys wear a shirt for the ceremony.
- Indosserò questo abito elegante alla festa.I will wear this elegant dress to the party.
- Non dimenticare di portare l'orologio al meeting.Don't forget to wear the watch to the meeting.
- Porta i guanti quando fa freddo.Wear gloves when it's cold.
- Posso portare un cappello al matrimonio?Can I wear a hat to the wedding?
- Porterò le scarpe da ginnastica per l'allenamento.I will wear sneakers for the workout.
- Oggi mi metto i jeans preferiti.Today, I'm wearing my favorite jeans.
- Mi piace mettermi una felpa quando sono a casa.I like to wear a sweatshirt when I'm at home.
- Stasera ci mettiamo eleganti per la cena fuori.Tonight, we will dress up for dinner outside.
- Quando usciamo, ti metti mai gli occhiali da sole?When we go out, do you ever wear sunglasses?
- Per l'escursione in montagna, vestiti in modo adeguato.For the mountain hike, dress appropriately.
- 181 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are getting ready for a formal party.
- LorenzoCosa vuoi indossare per stasera?What do you want to wear for tonight?
- SofiaPenso di indossare l'abito nero.I think I'll wear the black dress.
- LorenzoÈ perfetto per l'occasione.It's perfect for the occasion.
- SofiaE tu cosa decidi di indossare?And what do you decide to wear?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wear” translations and entries indossare, portare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries indossare, portare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
