Hibiscus Teach · Picture vocabulary
Everyday clothes and accessories
Learn twenty-four useful words, describe what you wear and choose clothes for everyday situations.
Created by Denis M., British English teacher.
Look, name, use
Name clothes and accessories, use singular and plural forms, and talk about what to wear.
Start with both unlabelled posters. Try naming items before choosing Numbered practice. Each sheet has three rows of four pictures. Open vocabulary help whenever you need it. Revealed labels appear on the pictures; on small screens, scroll sideways to see the full labelled poster.
On a small screen, choose Enlarge poster for a clear view and scroll sideways with touch, a mouse or arrow keys.
On my own: say your answers aloud. Writing is optional in speaking activities.
With my tutor: name familiar items first. Follow up: when do you wear them?
Your route: name the pictures, listen and repeat, use the words, then try final recall. Start with one picture set and take a break whenever you need.
On a small screen, revealed labels use a wider poster so you can read them. Scroll sideways, or choose Numbered practice to fit the whole picture again.
British English master recording
Libby reads the supplied script in one recording. Every Listen button uses this same MP3.
Full recording transcript
Welcome. In this lesson, we are going to learn everyday clothes and accessories. First, look at the pictures and try to name the items you already know. Then check the vocabulary, practise the words, and use them in simple conversations.
Number 1, a T-shirt.
Number 2, a shirt.
Number 3, a jumper.
Number 4, a jacket.
Number 5, jeans.
Number 6, trousers.
Number 7, a dress.
Number 8, a skirt.
Number 9, a cap.
Number 10, a scarf.
Number 11, a belt.
Number 12, sunglasses.
Repeat. A T-shirt. A shirt. A jumper. A jacket. Jeans. Trousers. A dress. A skirt. A cap. A scarf. A belt. Sunglasses.
Number 13, a coat.
Number 14, a hoodie.
Number 15, shorts.
Number 16, socks.
Number 17, a tie.
Number 18, gloves.
Number 19, boots.
Number 20, trainers.
Number 21, sandals.
Number 22, a watch.
Number 23, a handbag.
Number 24, an umbrella.
Repeat. A coat. A hoodie. Shorts. Socks. A tie. Gloves. Boots. Trainers. Sandals. A watch. A handbag. An umbrella.
We say: jeans, a pair of jeans. Trousers, a pair of trousers. Sunglasses, a pair of sunglasses. Shorts, a pair of shorts. Socks, a pair of socks. Gloves, a pair of gloves. Boots, a pair of boots. We also say: a T-shirt, a shirt, a jumper, a jacket, a dress, a skirt, a cap, a scarf, a belt, a coat, a hoodie, a tie, a watch, a handbag, an umbrella.
Listen and guess the word. You wear me on your head to protect yourself from the sun. You wear me around your neck when it is cold. You wear me with a shirt for formal work or special occasions. You wear me on your feet inside shoes in many situations. You take me when it is raining. You wear me on your wrist, and I tell you the time. You wear me over other clothes when the weather is cold or wet. You carry your personal things in me. You wear me on your eyes when it is bright outside. You wear me with trousers or jeans to hold them up. You wear me on your hands in cold weather. You wear me on your feet for sport or casual walking.
What are you going to wear today? I’m going to wear a blue shirt, black trousers and a jacket. Good idea. It’s cold this morning, so take a coat too. Yes, and I’ll wear my boots.
Excuse me. I’m looking for trainers. Certainly. What size do you need? Size nine, please. And do you also have a scarf? Yes, we do. The scarves are over here.
Which three items do you wear most often? Which items do you wear only in special situations? What do you wear when it is cold and rainy? What would you pack for a weekend trip?
Well done. Now try the final recall activity and see how many words you can remember without looking.
Choose a Listen button for a model. Press it again to stop.
A. Everyday clothes and accessories
Look first. Which items can you name? Which do you wear or use?
1T-shirt2shirt3jumper4jacket5jeans6trousers7dress8skirt9cap10scarf11belt12sunglassesText alternative: describe the pictures
Use these descriptions instead of the pictures for matching.
- A blue casual top with short sleeves and a round neck.
- A light-blue long-sleeved top with buttons and a collar.
- A navy knitted long-sleeved top.
- A dark outer layer with a zip at the front.
- Blue denim clothing with two long legs.
- Beige clothing with two long legs.
- A red one-piece garment with a fitted waist and a flowing lower part.
- A pink garment that hangs from the waist in one piece.
- A beige head covering with a curved peak.
- A long navy knitted strip with fringed ends.
- A brown leather strap with a buckle.
- Dark lenses in a black frame.
Match each word once. Read left to right across each row.
T-shirt · trousers · dress · sunglasses · shirt · belt · cap · jumper · scarf · jeans · jacket · skirt
Vocabulary and pronunciation support
Say each form aloud. Jumper can also be sweater; trainers can also be sneakers.
- 1. a T-shirt
- 2. a shirt
- 3. a jumper
- 4. a jacket
- 5. jeans / a pair of jeans
- 6. trousers / a pair of trousers
- 7. a dress
- 8. a skirt
- 9. a cap
- 10. a scarf
- 11. a belt
- 12. sunglasses / a pair of sunglasses
Name the pictures aloud, or use the optional boxes. The text descriptions remain available above.
B. More clothes and accessories
Look first. Which items can you name? Which do you wear or use?
13coat14hoodie15shorts16socks17tie18gloves19boots20trainers21sandals22watch23handbag24umbrellaText alternative: describe the pictures
Use these descriptions instead of the pictures for matching.
- A long brown outer garment with buttons and lapels.
- A grey casual top with a hood and front pocket.
- Beige leg clothing ending above the knee.
- Two white knitted foot coverings.
- A long navy strip of formal neckwear.
- Two grey knitted hand coverings with separate fingers.
- Brown lace-up footwear covering the ankles.
- White lace-up sports or casual footwear.
- Brown open footwear with straps and buckles.
- A round clock face on a metal wrist strap.
- A black carrying bag with two handles.
- An open navy rain cover with a curved handle.
Match each word once. Read left to right across each row.
handbag · trainers · tie · shorts · gloves · umbrella · hoodie · sandals · coat · watch · boots · socks
Vocabulary and pronunciation support
Say each form aloud. Jumper can also be sweater; trainers can also be sneakers.
- 13. a coat
- 14. a hoodie
- 15. shorts / a pair of shorts
- 16. socks / a pair of socks
- 17. a tie
- 18. gloves / a pair of gloves
- 19. boots / a pair of boots
- 20. trainers / a pair of trainers
- 21. sandals / a pair of sandals
- 22. a watch
- 23. a handbag
- 24. an umbrella
Name the pictures aloud, or use the optional boxes. The text descriptions remain available above.
Speak for 20–45 seconds: Name three items you wear often.
On my own: speak aloud, then compare with the model.
With my tutor: Which do you wear together?
Possible model response
I often wear a T-shirt, jeans and trainers.
Useful groups
Tops and outer layers: T-shirt, shirt, jumper, jacket, hoodie, coat.
Bottoms: jeans, trousers, shorts, skirt.
Footwear: boots, trainers, sandals.
Accessories: cap, scarf, belt, sunglasses, tie, gloves, watch, handbag, umbrella.
A dress is a one-piece garment. Socks are worn on your feet, often inside shoes. These groups help you remember words; not every item fits just one group.
Speak for 20–45 seconds: Choose one item from three different groups.
On my own: speak aloud, then compare with the model.
With my tutor: Would they make a suitable outfit?
Possible model response
I could wear a shirt, trousers and boots.
What am I?
Read the 24 clues. Say a word aloud or type it to check. Use each main lesson word once.
Open the 24 clues
Singular and plural forms
Use a with a singular countable noun: a shirt, a skirt, a belt. Say an umbrella, because umbrella starts with a vowel sound.
Jeans, trousers, shorts and sunglasses take plural verbs: these jeans are blue. Say some jeans or a pair of jeans. A pair is singular: this pair of jeans is blue.
One sock, two socks; one glove, two gloves; one boot, two boots. We often talk about a pair. Say these gloves are, but this shirt is.
Speak for 20–45 seconds: Describe one singular item and one plural item.
On my own: speak aloud, then compare with the model.
With my tutor: Can you change the second sentence to a pair of?
Possible model response
This shirt is blue. These trousers are black. This pair of trousers is black.
Check ten form questions
Choose one correct option. In questions G1 and G2, two options are grammatically possible.
Choose the best item
Say or type a suitable item. More than one answer can fit the extra-layer situation.
Open eight situations
Listen to two short dialogues
Listen first, answer the questions, then open the transcript. Practise both roles aloud.
Getting dressed
Read the transcript
A: Getting dressed
A: What are you going to wear today?
B: I’m going to wear a blue shirt, black trousers and a jacket.
A: Good idea. It’s cold this morning, so take a coat too.
B: Yes, and I’ll wear my boots.
Check understanding: three questions
At the shop
Read the transcript
B: At the shop
A: Excuse me. I’m looking for trainers.
B: Certainly. What size do you need?
A: Size nine, please. And do you also have a scarf?
B: Yes, we do. The scarves are over here.
Check understanding: three questions
Speak for 20–45 seconds: Change one item in the shop conversation.
On my own: speak aloud, then compare with the model.
With my tutor: Ask about the size or colour.
Possible model response
Excuse me. I’m looking for a jumper. Certainly. What size do you need? Medium, please.
Make it personal
- Which three items do you wear most often?
- Which items do you wear only in special situations?
- Do you prefer jeans or trousers? Why?
- Do you usually carry a handbag or wear a backpack, or neither?
- What do you wear when it is cold and rainy?
- What would you pack for a weekend trip?
Speak for 20–45 seconds: Choose one question and answer it.
On my own: speak aloud, then compare with the model.
With my tutor: Why is that a good choice for you?
Possible model response
When it is cold and rainy, I wear a coat and boots. I take an umbrella.
Wear describes having clothes on: I wear a jumper at work. Put on describes the action: I put on my coat before I go out. We carry a handbag and take an umbrella.
British English jumper can be sweater; trainers can be sneakers. For this picture, bag and the American word purse can describe the handbag. A British purse usually means a smaller money holder.
Plan an outfit
Choose clothes and accessories for each situation. Speak in full sentences and explain one choice. These are examples, not the only correct outfits.
On my own: say your plan aloud before opening a model.
With my tutor: compare outfits. Follow up: what would you change if the weather changed?
A rainy day in the city
Possible model response
For a rainy day in the city, I would wear a coat and boots and take an umbrella.
A casual day at home
Possible model response
At home, I would wear a T-shirt, shorts and socks.
A formal meeting
Possible model response
For a formal meeting, I would wear a shirt, trousers, a jacket and a tie.
A summer holiday
Possible model response
For a summer holiday, I would pack a T-shirt, shorts, sandals, a cap and sunglasses.
Final recall challenge
Hide labels and word banks. Use the same two posters and answer these five prompts from memory. You may also name all 24 pictures aloud or in optional boxes.
Name all four tops in section A.
Reveal a possible answer
T-shirt, shirt, jumper and jacket.
Name three accessories from section A.
Reveal a possible answer
For example: cap, scarf and belt. Sunglasses is also correct.
Name three things you wear in cold weather from section B.
Reveal a possible answer
For example: coat, hoodie and gloves. Boots and socks can also be suitable.
Name three things you can wear on your feet from section B.
Reveal a possible answer
For example: boots, trainers and sandals. Socks is also correct.
Name two plural-only clothing words from the whole lesson.
Reveal a possible answer
For example: jeans and trousers. Shorts and sunglasses are also plural-only in these meanings.