• Imagine you were going to travel to Spanish speaking country.  Where might you go?  What sorts of activities would you do?  Therefore, what clothing might you bring?

• If you could have only five articles of clothing, what would you have?

• Imagine you had a pen-pal from a South American country who was coming to spend some time with you.  In a letter you have to tell her/him in Spanish what to pack in terms of clothes.  Can you do it?  Hopefully after this unit you will be able to.

Review the following list of vocabulary.  Write it down if you haven't yet.
 

• el abrigocoat, los blue jeansdungarees, la blusa blouse, los bolsillos pockets, las botas boots, la bufanda scarf, los calcetines socks, la camisa shirt, la camiseta T-shirt, la chaqueta jacket, el cinturón belt, la corbata tie, los cortos shorts, la falda skirt, la gorra cap, los guantes gloves, el impermeable raincoat, el jerseyjersey, sweatshirt, los medios stockings, los pantalones pants, los pantalones cortos shorts, la playera T-shirt, tank top, la ropa interior underwear, las sandalias sandals, el sombrero hat, el suéter sweater, los tejanos dunagrees, el traje suit, el traje de baño bathing suit, el vestido dress, las zapatillas slippers, los zapatos shoes, los zapatos de tenis sneakers

• Where would you go?  What activities would you do?  What would you pack?

• What five articles would you have?

• What would you tell your pen-pal to bring?

Now see if you know what the following items are.  If you are just starting this unit, click on the items and repeat the words to learn them.  If you are experienced with this vocabulary, quiz yourself to see how much you know.  Look at the picture, name the item, then click on it to see if you are correct.
 
 

You will learn this vocabulary best if you use it, so here's the chance to do so.  Your work may or may not be checked, but if you are doing the activities with the intent of learning, you probably will!

Answer the following questions using as much vocabulary as possible.  Use the verb "llevo", which means "I wear".

• ¿Qué llevas a la escuela?
• ¿Qué llevas a una fiesta?
• ¿Qué llevas a un concierto?
• ¿Qué llevas al teatro?
• ¿Qué llevas a una boda (wedding)?
• ¿Qué llevas a esquiar?
• ¿Qué llevas  a la playa?

• ¿Cuándo llevas los zapatos de tenis?
• ¿Cuándo llevas un traje de baño?
• ¿Cuándo llevas un abrigo?
• ¿Cuándo llevas un traje o un vestido?
• ¿Cuándo llevas los tejanos?
• ¿Cuándo llevas los cortos?
• ¿Cuándo llevas una camisa de manga (sleeve) corta?
• ¿Cuándo llevas guantes?
• ¿Cuándo llevas una playera?
• ¿Cuándo llevas una gorra o un sombrero?
• ¿Cuándo llevas botas?

Practice this vocabulary by describing in detail the items of clothing you are wearing, and/or a special outfit you wore (or are going to wear) to a special event.  Put together a series of pictures of yourself and describe what you are wearing in each.  Vary the pictures - and therefore the descriptions-  as much as possible.

State the following en español:

•  a striped shirt
• a cotton skirt
• a colorful cap
• leather underwear
• polkadot pants
• corduroy tank top

Look at the items picture above, and describe: (Guess at the material if you have to.)

• la bufanda
• el vestido
• los zapatos
• el suéter
• la blusa

• what you wear in certain situations,
• what you might give people as clothing presents,
• and what you might bring on a trip to a Spanish speaking country.

 

cliente vocab is violeta, dependiente is negro

• ¿En qué puedo servirle? > Busco (Necesito, Deseo, Quiero, Quisiera) [un suéter].
•   How can I help you?....  I'm looking for (I need, want, would like) [a sweater].
• ¿Qué talla usa (lleva) Ud.? >  Uso (Llevo) talla [cincuenta].
• What size do you wear?  >  I wear size  [50].
• ¿Quiere Ud. probarse [ese suéter]? > Sí, quiero probármelo.  / No, puede mostrarme otro.
• Do you want to try on [that sweater]?  > Yes, I want to try it on.  /  No.  Can you show me anther?
• ¿Le queda (sienta) bien?  > Sí, me queda (sienta) bien.  / No, me queda (sienta) un poco....
• Does it fit you well?  > Yes, it fits me well.  No, it's a little...
• grande /chico
• largo/corto
• ancho/estrecho
• flojo/apretado
• big/small
• long/short
• wide/narrow
• loose/tight

• ¿Le gusta a Ud. [este vestido]? >  Sí, me gusta.  Es lindo (bonito, elegante, perfecto, etc.)  /  No, no me gusta.  Es feo.
• Do you like [this dress]?  >  Yes, I like it.  It's beautiful (pretty, elegant, perfect, etc.) / No, I don't like it.  It's ugly.
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? (¿Cuál es el precio?)  Cuesta solamente [doscientos pesos].
• How much does it cost? (What is the price?)  >  It only costs (200 pesos).
• Es una ganga.
• It's (What a) bargain.
• Es muy barato.
• It's very cheap (inexpensive).
• Es muy caro.
• It's very expensive.
• ¡Cuesta una fortuna!
• That costs a fortune!
• ¡Cuesta un ojo de la cara!
• That costs an eye from my face (= an arm and a leg)!

• Go to buy a nice looking outfit for a formal dance.  Have something fit too small.
• Go buy something for a trip to Cancún.  Be picky about the colors and styles.  Have something not fit well.
• Go buy something for the coming school year.  Make sure something doesn't fit.
• Go do your shopping for the summer.  Of course things don't fit well.
• Imagine you are going on a winter skiing excursion in Argentina.  Buy what you need, and make sure items don't fit.

Go do a virtual visit to some Spanish speaking countries. (Go surf with a purpose.) Just tour around and look at pictures of people and make notes of what they are wearing.  Do one of the following:
 

• "Travel around a country" and compare the clothing these people wear with the clothes you wear.  Explain why you think they are the same, or why you think they are different.  Prepare a visual to accompany an oral presentation to the class about your findings.

• Travel all around Spanish speaking countries and look at how the clothing varies from country to country or region to region.  Explain why the differences/similarities exist.  Again, prepare a report with visuals for the class.

• Research a particular country's traditional costume.  Find pictures and present a detailed report about it- what it is and all its component, its origins, its uses, etc.

Enlaces to other vocabularies for clothes at studyspanish.com.  There are interactive activities on these pages, so it's worth doing if you want to practice more and learn.
 

• ropa para mujeres
• ropa para hombres
• ropa para el exterior

Picture answers