German Size, Fit & Style Vocabulary
This set covers how Germans talk about clothes that fit, or don't: die Größe for size, passen for whether something fits, and schlottern for clothes that hang off you baggily. One trap here is der Stoff versus die Wolle: Stoff is the general word for fabric or material, while Wolle is specifically wool, and English speakers often reach for Stoff when they actually mean a fiber type like wool or Leder (leather).
Learn these 31 words
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All 31 words
plural: die Größen
size
Haben Sie das auch in Größe 40? — Do you have this in size 40?
- engA2
tight, narrow
Diese Hose ist zu eng. Gibt es sie auch eine Nummer größer? — These pants are too tight. Do you have them in a bigger size?
fashion
Wie findest du die neue Mode? — What do you think of the new fashion?
- passenA2
to fit, suit
Die Bluse passt mir nicht. — The blouse doesn't fit me.
- chicB1
stylish, chic
Ich finde dein Kleid sehr chic. — I think your dress is very stylish.
- elegantB1
elegant, stylish
Ich finde dein Kleid sehr elegant. — I think your dress is very elegant.
leather
Ist die Tasche aus Leder? — Is the bag made of leather?
plural: die Stoffe
fabric, material
Was für ein Stoff ist das? – Wolle. — What kind of fabric is that? – Wool.
plural: die Wollen
wool
Dieser Pullover ist aus reiner Wolle. — This sweater is made of pure wool.
elaborate / ornate / expensive / costly
Die Hochzeit war sehr aufwendig geplant. — The wedding was planned very elaborately.
of solid gold
Der Ring ist aus massivem Gold. — The ring is of solid gold.
- dehnbarB2
elastic / stretchy
Das dehnbare Material passt sich gut an. — The elastic material fits well.
adjustable
Die einstellbare Rückenlehne ist sehr praktisch. — The adjustable backrest is very practical.
plural: die Fransen
a fringe / loose thread
Die Franse an der Jacke muss repariert werden. — The fringe on the jacket needs to be repaired.
- kräuselnB2
to ruffle / frizz / crimp
Das nasse Haar kräuselt sich in der Hitze. — The wet hair curls in the heat.
custom-made / tailored
Sein maßgeschneiderter Anzug sieht perfekt aus. — His custom-made suit looks perfect.
pinstripes
Die Nadelstreifen des Anzugs wirken klassisch. — The pinstripes of the suit look classic.
a tassel (wenig benutzt)
Die Quasten am Schal sind dekorativ. — The tassels on the scarf are decorative.
horizontal stripes
Das Kleid hat schöne Querstreifen. — The dress has beautiful horizontal stripes.
- reißfestB2
tear resistant / tearproof
Das Material ist reißfest und langlebig. — The material is tear-resistant and durable.
plural: die Schlaufen
a loop
Die Schlaufe an der Hose ist praktisch. — The loop on the trousers is practical.
to hang loosely / be baggy
Die viel zu große Hose schlottert herum. — The much too large trousers hang loosely.
plural: die Trödel
tassle / pom-pom
Die Troddel am Hut ist süß. — The tassel on the hat is cute.
suede
Diese Handschuhe sind aus edlem Wildleder. — These gloves are made of fine suede.
plural: die Jabots
a jabot frilly thing
Das Jabot an seinem Hemd ist sehr aufwendig. — The jabot on his shirt is very elaborate.
plural: die Kattune
calico
Der Kattun ist ein preisgünstiger Stoff. — Calico is an affordable fabric.
plural: die Revers
a lapel / reverse
Das Revers des Jacketts ist breit. — The lapel of the jacket is wide.
plural: die Rüschen
a ruffle / frill
Die Rüsche am Kleid ist aus Spitze. — The ruffle on the dress is made of lace.
plural: die Spitzenbesätze
lace trim
Der Spitzenbesatz am Kleid ist wertvoll. — The lace trim on the dress is valuable.
- strammC1
tight / strapping / taut (wenig benutzt)
Das Hemd sitzt stramm um die Schultern. — The shirt fits tightly around the shoulders.
washable / colorfast (won't fade)
Diese waschechte Farbe verblasst nicht leicht. — This colorfast dye doesn't fade easily.
How to learn this set
Several nouns here are pattern words for describing surface texture and decoration: die Franse, die Quasten, and die Troddel all name hanging bits of trim, so learn them together as "things that dangle off clothing" rather than in isolation. The compound die Nadelstreifen (needle-stripes) and die Querstreifen (cross-stripes) show how German builds pattern words from Streifen plus a descriptor, so once you know Streifen, new stripe types are easy to guess. For the adjectives describing fit and quality, drill dehnbar, reißfest, and verstellbar as a trio since they all answer the practical question "what does this fabric or fastener actually do," which is how a shop label or product description would use them.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 'eng' the right word for tight clothes in German?
Yes, eng covers both 'tight' (diese Hose ist mir zu eng) and 'narrow'. There's no separate word for clothes-tight versus space-narrow the way English sometimes splits these, so one adjective does both jobs.
What's the difference between chic and elegant in German?
They overlap but chic leans toward trendy and eye-catching, while elegant leans toward classic and understated. A sequined dress is chic; a tailored wool coat is elegant.
Why does 'passen' sometimes mean 'to fit' and sometimes 'to suit'?
Passen describes a match, whether that's size (der Mantel passt mir) or style (die Farbe passt zu deinen Augen). English uses two verbs where German just uses one, so watch the preposition that follows it.
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