die  Kleidung

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈklaɪ̯dʊŋ/

👚 What does "Kleidung" mean?

Die Kleidung (feminine noun, article 'die') refers to clothing, apparel, or garments collectively. It's a general term for the things people wear to cover, protect, or adorn their bodies.

Imagine opening your wardrobe – everything inside (trousers, shirts, dresses, socks, etc.) is considered die Kleidung.

🚨 Attention: While a plural form "die Kleidungen" theoretically exists, it's very rarely used in everyday German. It might appear in technical contexts referring to different types of clothing (e.g., "Schutzkleidungen" - protective clothing types). Normally, you use "Kleidung" in the singular, even when talking about many items. To refer to individual items, use "das Kleidungsstück" (piece of clothing), plural: "die Kleidungsstücke".

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Kleidung"

The noun "Kleidung" is feminine, so the article is die. It's predominantly used in the singular.

Singular Declension

*The indefinite article is rarely used because "Kleidung" usually functions as a general, uncountable concept.

Plural

As mentioned, the plural "die Kleidungen" is highly uncommon. Instead, Germans use phrases with "Kleidungsstücke" (pieces of clothing) or rephrase the sentence.

Example Sentences

1. Im Winter braucht man warme Kleidung.
   (In winter, one needs warm clothing.)
2. Sie hat viel Geld für neue Kleidung ausgegeben.
   (She spent a lot of money on new clothing.)
3. Die Qualität der Kleidung ist sehr gut.
   (The quality of the clothing is very good.)
4. Mit warmer Kleidung ist ihm nicht mehr kalt.
   (With warm clothing, he is no longer cold.)
5. Er sortiert seine Kleidung nach Farben.
   (He sorts his clothing by color.)

💡 How to use "Kleidung"?

"Kleidung" is a very common word in German, used in many everyday situations:

• Shopping: "Ich muss neue Kleidung kaufen." (I need to buy new clothes.)
• Describing people: "Seine Kleidung war sehr elegant." (His clothing was very elegant.)
• Relating to weather: "Zieh dir passende Kleidung an, es ist kalt draußen!" (Put on suitable clothing, it's cold outside!)
• As a general concept: "Kleidung schützt den Körper." (Clothing protects the body.)

It's important to understand that "Kleidung" is a collective noun (Sammelbegriff). It refers to garments in general, not a single item. If you want to talk about a specific piece, you use words like:

• das T-Shirt (the T-shirt)
• die Hose (the trousers/pants)
• der Pullover (the sweater/pullover)
• das Kleid (the dress)
• das Kleidungsstück (the item/piece of clothing - a neutral term for one item)

Don't confuse "die Kleidung" (clothing in general) with "das Kleid" (a dress).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Kleidung"

1. Article Mnemonic: Most German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (e.g., die Rechnung - the bill, die Wohnung - the apartment). Remember this pattern for die Kleidung. Or think: She (die) wears beautiful Kleidung.

2. Meaning Mnemonic: "Kleidung" comes from the verb "kleiden" (to dress). Think of the English word "clothe" - it sounds a bit like the beginning of Kleidung. You use Kleidung to clothe yourself.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

Similar but potentially confusing words:

• Das Kleid (plural: die Kleider): A dress (a specific garment, usually for women). Not the collective term!
• Das Kleidungsstück (plural: die Kleidungsstücke): An item/piece of clothing (e.g., a pair of trousers, a shirt).

😄 A little Joke

German: Warum hat die Kleidung einen Therapeuten aufgesucht? – Weil sie zu viele Komplexe zum Aufhängen hatte!

English: Why did the clothes go to see a therapist? – Because they had too many hang-ups! 😉

✍️ Poem about Clothing

German:
Ob Hose, Hemd, ob Rock, ob Schuh,
Die Kleidung gehört einfach dazu.
Mal bunt, mal schlicht, mal warm, mal fein,
Sie hüllt uns schützend ein.

English Translation:
Whether pants, shirt, skirt, or shoe,
Clothing is simply part of the view.
Sometimes colorful, simple, warm, or fine,
It wraps around us, a protective line.

🤔 Little Riddle

German:
Ich habe keine Stimme, doch erzähle viel,
über deinen Stil und dein Lebensgefühl.
Ich bedecke dich, mal schick, mal leger,
mal bin ich neu, mal trug man mich schon sehr.

Was bin ich? (... Die Kleidung)

English Translation:
I have no voice, yet I tell a lot,
About your style and the life you've got.
I cover you, sometimes chic, sometimes casual wear,
Sometimes I'm new, sometimes I've seen much wear and tear.

What am I?
(... Clothing / Die Kleidung)

✨ More Interesting Facts

• Word Formation: The word "Kleidung" is derived from the verb "kleiden" (to dress/clothe) using the suffix "-ung". This suffix often forms feminine nouns in German.
• Cultural Significance: Kleidung (clothing) holds significant social and symbolic meaning across all cultures. It can indicate status, affiliation, profession, or mood.
• Related Terms: das Kleidungsstück (item of clothing), der Kleiderbügel (clothes hanger), der Kleiderschrank (wardrobe/closet), die Bekleidungsindustrie (clothing industry).