Advanced Brazilian Portuguese Fashion Vocabulary: Describing Clothes In Detail

Here are some terms for fashion enthusiasts to use when talking about a designer’s clothing line and for describing the clothes in detail in Portuguese. If you ever get the chance to attend a fashion show in Brazil, this advanced list of  “termos de moda” will really impress your guests. If you ever get the chance to attend São Paulo Fashion Week, it is an amazing experience.

FASHION SEASONS

Outono/Inverno – Autumn/Winter

Primavera/Verão – Spring/Summer

TYPES OF COLLARS

gola – collar

gola rulê – turtleneck

gola canoa – boat neck

gola careca – crewneck

CLOTHING DETAILS

punho – cuff (of a shirt, coat, etc.)

cava – armhole

mangas – sleeves

orla – edge, border, hem (clothes)

bojo – the foam padding sometimes built into a swimsuit top or shirt

bordado – embroidery

babado – frill

botões – buttons

alça – strap

lapela – lapel

 ponto (de costura) – stitch (n.)

passante – belt loop

SHOE DETAILS

salto (do sapato) – a shoe heel

salto alto – high heel

sapatilha, sapatos baixos – flats

sapatilhas – pumps

sapato – shoe

pantufa – slipper

cadarço – shoelace

sandália – sandal

chinelo – flip flop (*this is also a slang word for someone who is kind of a loser)

tênis – tennis shoes, sneakers

TAILORING

alfaiate – a tailor

costurar – to mend, sew

desfiar – to unravel, fray

tomar uma medida – to measure

cintura – the waist

ombro – the shoulder

THE FABRIC

tecido – fabric

tecido xadrez – checkered fabric

estampa – print

estampa leopardo – leopard print

raiado -striped

couro – leather

veludo – velvet

cetim – satin

seda – silk

 lã – wool

flanela – flannel

alça – strap

moletom – sweatshirt, or anything made out of sweatshirt material

algodão – cotton

roupas em malha retilínea – knitwear, mesh

tricotado – knitted

tricô – knitting

renda – lace

ADJECTIVES

comprido – short (for example, when referring to a dress or skirt)

manga comprida – long sleeved

manga curta – short sleeved

largo, folgado – baggy

moulage – draped

impermeável – waterproof

amarrotado – wrinkled, crumpled, creased

“ao avesso” – inside out

CUSTOM MADE / COTURE / DESIGNER WEAR / LABELS

encomenda – an order (something specially ordered or sent away for, custom made)

feito sob medida – custom made (clothes)

estilo – style

griffe – desidner label

traje – ensemble, outfit

roupa esportiva – sportswear

etiqueta, marca – label

 

Portuguese Vocabulary List for Clothes / Clothing

Portuguese words for different articles of clothing:

cinto – belt

passante – belt loop

fivela do cinto – buckle

boné , uma toca– baseball hat

chapéu – hat

casaco – coat

vestido – dress

luvas – gloves

lenço – handkerchief, scarf

jaqueta – jacket, windbreaker

calça jeans – jeans

calças – pants

cachecol – scarf (for winter)

camisa – shirt

sapato – shoe

pantufa – slipper

cadarço – shoelace

shorts – shorts

bermuda – shorts, or swim shorts for guys

sunga – a guy’s speedo

maiô, biquini – girls swimsuit or bikini

saia – skirt

meias – socks

terno – suit

gravata – tie

gravata borboleta – bow tie

camiseta – t-shirt, undershirt

uniforme – uniform

botão – button

óculos – glasses

óculos de sol – sunglasses

guarda-chuva – umbrella

camisola – nightgown

pijama – pijamas

bolso – pocket

bolsa – purse

sandália – sandal

chinelo – flip flop (*this is also a slang word for someone who is kind of a loser)

tênis – tennis shoes, sneakers

suéter, pulôver, agasalho – sweater

colete – vest

calcinha(f) / cueca(m) – underwear

carteira – wallet

blusa – blouse, shirt

sutiã – bra

meia-calça – panyihose

salto (do sapato) – a shoe heel

gola – collar

mangas – sleeves

alça – strap

orla – edge, border, hem (clothes)

botões – buttons

bojo – the foam padding sometinmes built into a swimsuit top or shirt

cabide – coat hanger

vasculhar – to rummage through (clothes)

Cleaning Clothes:

engomar – to starch/iron clothes

manchar – to stain

varal – a clothes line (for drying)

esfregar – to scrub (clothes) when washing by hand

enxovalhar – to get dirty (clothes), to crumple