EngToHindi

Clothing words in Hindi

From an everyday कमीज़ (kameez, shirt) to a festival साड़ी — the Hindi names for what people wear, plus the all-purpose verb पहनना (pehenna, to wear).

Indian wardrobes happily mix the global and the traditional: a young professional might wear a Western shirt and trousers to the office, then a कुर्ता (kurta) for a wedding. Knowing the names for both worlds makes shopping, getting dressed for an occasion, and complimenting someone's outfit much easier. The umbrella word is कपड़े (kapde), "clothes" — literally the plural of कपड़ा (kapda, cloth).

The single most useful verb here is पहनना (pehenna), "to wear" or "to put on". It pairs with any garment: जूते पहनना (to put on shoes), कमीज़ पहनना (to wear a shirt).

Everyday & Western garments

The clothes you'll name most often.
EnglishHindiPronunciation
Clothesकपड़ेkapde
Shirtकमीज़kameez
Trousers / pantsपतलूनpatloon
Shoesजूतेjoote
Sandals / slippersचप्पलchappal
Socksमोज़ेmoze
Cap / hatटोपीtopi
Sweaterस्वेटरsweter
Coat / jacketकोटkot

Traditional Indian dress

Garments rooted in South Asian tradition.
EnglishHindiPronunciation
Sariसाड़ीsaari
Kurta (tunic)कुर्ताkurta
Salwar (loose trousers)सलवारsalwaar
Dupatta (long scarf)दुपट्टाdupatta
Kurta-pyjama setकुर्ता-पाजामाkurta-paajaama
Petticoat / skirtलहंगाlehnga
Shawlशॉलshaal

Wearing & describing

Verbs and words for getting dressed.
EnglishHindiPronunciation
To wear / put onपहननाpehenna
To take offउतारनाutaarna
Newनयाnaya
Old / wornपुरानाpuraana
Cloth / fabricकपड़ाkapda
Buttonबटनbatan
Dress & tradition. Traditional clothes carry real meaning. A साड़ी or a कुर्ता comes out for festivals, weddings, and visits to elders, while jeans and a shirt are everyday wear. Complimenting someone's outfit — आपके कपड़े बहुत सुंदर हैं (aapke kapde bahut sundar hain, "your clothes are very beautiful") — is a warm, welcome thing to say.

Usage notes & common mistakes

पहनना vs. लगाना. Garments take पहनना (to wear), but accessories you "apply" or "attach" often take लगाना (lagaana) — for instance perfume or a bindi. Shoes and clothes, though, are always पहनना.

Plural-looking words. जूते (shoes), मोज़े (socks), and कपड़े (clothes) are already plural. A single shoe is जूता (joota). Adjectives shift to match: "new clothes" is नए कपड़े (naye kapde), not naya kapde.

कमीज़ is feminine. Despite meaning "shirt", कमीज़ is a feminine noun, so you'd say नई कमीज़ (nai kameez, "new shirt"). Getting noun gender right is half the battle in Hindi — our colors page shows the same agreement at work.

Finally, पाजामा (pyjama) in Hindi means loose drawstring trousers worn day or night, not just sleepwear — the English word actually came from this.

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Frequently asked

What is the Hindi word for clothes?
Clothes are कपड़े (kapde), the plural of कपड़ा (kapda, cloth or a piece of clothing). The same word also covers laundry, as in washing clothes.
How do you say "to wear" in Hindi?
The verb is पहनना (pehenna). For example कपड़े पहनना is "to put on clothes" and साड़ी पहनना is "to wear a sari".
What is a kurta and a dupatta?
A कुर्ता (kurta) is a long loose tunic worn by men and women. A दुपट्टा (dupatta) is a long scarf draped over the shoulders or chest, usually paired with a kurta or salwar.
What do you call a sari in Hindi?
A sari is साड़ी (saari), a long unstitched cloth draped around the body — one of the best-known traditional garments worn by women across India.
Are "shoes" and "socks" plural in Hindi?
Yes. जूते (shoes) and मोज़े (socks) are plural; a single shoe is जूता (joota). Adjectives change to match the plural, as in नए जूते (naye joote, new shoes).