German: Describe What People Are Wearing with Colors
Learn to say what someone is wearing in German using colors and clothing items, with the verb tragen and correct adjective endings.
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In this lesson you will learn how to describe what someone is wearing in German. You will use clothing words, color words, and the verb tragen (to wear). The focus is on clothes, not on physical appearance. You will practice the pattern: subject + tragen + color adjective + clothing item. For example, 'Sie trägt eine blaue Jacke' means 'She is wearing a blue jacket.' You will also learn how adjective endings change after ein/eine and der/die/das.
By the end, you can…
- name common clothing items in German.
- name basic colors in German.
- use the verb tragen to say what someone is wearing.
- add a color adjective with the correct ending after ein/eine and der/die/das.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Sie trägt eine blaue Jacke.
She is wearing a blue jacket.
zee TRECKT eye-nuh BLOW-uh YAH-kuh
Use for one person, female. Jacke is feminine, so eine and the adjective ending -e are used.
Er trägt ein rotes Hemd.
He is wearing a red shirt.
air TRECKT ine ROH-tuhs HEMT
Hemd is neuter, so ein is used and the adjective ending is -es.
Ich trage eine schwarze Hose.
I am wearing black trousers.
ish TRAH-guh eye-nuh SHVAR-tsuh HOH-zuh
Hose is feminine. In German, Hose is singular even though it means trousers.
Der Mann trägt einen blauen Mantel.
The man is wearing a blue coat.
dair mahn TRECKT eye-nen BLOW-en MAHN-tel
Mantel is masculine. After einen, the adjective ending is -en.
Die Frau trägt weiße Schuhe.
The woman is wearing white shoes.
dee frow TRECKT VY-suh SHOO-uh
Schuhe is plural. After die, the adjective ending is -e.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern is: subject + tragen + (color adjective + ending) + clothing item. The verb tragen changes: ich trage, du trägst, er/sie/es trägt, wir tragen, ihr tragt, sie/Sie tragen. The adjective ending depends on the article and the noun gender. After eine/ein, feminine and neuter nouns take -e, masculine takes -en. After der/die/das, the ending is usually -e. Examples: Sie trägt eine blaue Jacke. Er trägt ein rotes Hemd. Der Mann trägt einen blauen Mantel. Die Frau trägt weiße Schuhe.
When to use it
Use this pattern when you want to describe someone's clothes in the present moment. For example, if you are looking at a photo, you can say: Auf dem Foto trägt Lisa eine grüne Bluse. If you want to ask about someone's clothes, say: Was trägt er? The answer can be: Er trägt eine graue Hose und ein weißes Hemd. You can also use tragen for accessories: Sie trägt eine rote Mütze. Note: In Austrian German, some clothing words differ, e.g., 'Sackerl' for bag, but tragen is standard.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Was trägt Maria heute?
What is Maria wearing today?vahs TRECKT mah-REE-ah HOY-tuhSie trägt eine gelbe Bluse und eine schwarze Hose.
She is wearing a yellow blouse and black trousers.zee TRECKT eye-nuh GEL-buh BLOO-zuh oont eye-nuh SHVAR-tsuh HOH-zuhUnd was trägt ihr Bruder?
And what is her brother wearing?oont vahs TRECKT eer BROO-dairEr trägt ein blaues T-Shirt und weiße Schuhe.
He is wearing a blue T-shirt and white shoes.air TRECKT ine BLOW-uhs TEE-shert oont VY-suh SHOO-uhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, describing clothing is common in everyday conversation, but commenting on someone's appearance can be sensitive. Stick to clothes and colors unless you know the person well. In Austria and Switzerland, some clothing terms differ: for example, 'Jause' is a snack, not clothing, but 'Sackerl' (Austrian) means a small bag. Standard German 'tragen' is understood everywhere. Use 'Sie' for formal situations and 'du' for friends and family.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Sie trägt eine blau Jacke' without the adjective ending.
Try this instead: In German, the adjective before a noun needs an ending. After 'eine' with a feminine noun, add -e: 'Sie trägt eine blaue Jacke.' After 'ein' with a neuter noun, add -es: 'Er trägt ein rotes Hemd.' After 'einen' with a masculine noun, add -en: 'Er trägt einen blauen Mantel.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'He is wearing a green shirt' in German?
Show a sample answer
Er trägt ein grünes Hemd.
Hemd is neuter, so 'ein' is used and the adjective 'grün' takes the ending -es. 'Er trägt ein grünes Hemd' is correct. You could also say 'Er hat ein grünes Hemd an,' which is equally valid.
2Fill in the correct adjective ending: 'Die Frau trägt eine schwarz___ Hose.'
Show a sample answer
schwarze
Hose is feminine and comes after 'eine,' so the adjective ending is -e: 'eine schwarze Hose.' If you used 'die schwarze Hose,' that would also be correct in a different context.
3Translate: 'I am wearing white shoes.'
Show a sample answer
Ich trage weiße Schuhe.
The verb 'tragen' becomes 'trage' for ich. 'Schuhe' is plural, and after no article or after 'die,' the adjective ending is -e: 'weiße Schuhe.' You could also say 'Ich habe weiße Schuhe an.'
To describe what someone is wearing in German, use tragen plus a color adjective with the correct ending and the clothing item. Remember: after eine/ein, feminine and neuter take -e, masculine takes -en; after der/die/das, usually -e.
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