When you think of the word for 'jacket' in French, une veste probably comes to mind. And you're not wrong! But French, like English, has a whole closet full of words for different types of outerwear. From a light windbreaker for a breezy spring day to a heavy-duty coat for the depths of winter, knowing the right word can make all the difference. Ready to expand your vocabulary and dress for any weather like a true Parisian? Let's dive into nine different ways to say 'jacket' in French!

The standard 'jacket' – une veste

The most common and versatile word for 'jacket' in French is une veste.

Une veste is a feminine noun that refers to a general-purpose jacket. This can include anything from a blazer or suit jacket to a denim jacket or a light spring jacket. It's typically shorter and less heavy than a full-on coat.

You can use une veste in a wide range of situations, both formal and casual. It’s the perfect default word when you're not talking about a heavy winter coat (un manteau) or a specific type of outerwear like a raincoat (un imperméable).

The word veste is often paired with another noun to describe its material or purpose. This is a great way to expand your vocabulary:

• Une veste en jean: A denim jacket
• Une veste en cuir: A leather jacket
• Une veste de costume: A suit jacket
• Une veste de sport: A sports jacket or blazer

The most important distinction for learners is between une veste and un manteau (a coat). A manteau is heavier, often longer, and designed for cold weather. You wear un manteau in winter, but you might wear une veste indoors or on a cool autumn day.

Be careful not to confuse une veste with un gilet. In French, un gilet refers to a vest, waistcoat, or a cardigan sweater. It is typically sleeveless or a piece of knitwear, not an outer jacket.

💡 * J'ai acheté une nouvelle veste pour le printemps.

• Il fait un peu froid, tu devrais prendre une veste.
• Pour l'entretien, il faut porter une veste de costume.
• J'adore ta veste en jean, où l'as-tu trouvée ?
• Cette veste en cuir est trop chère pour moi.

The 'coat' or 'overcoat' – un manteau

The 'coat' or 'overcoat' – un manteau

The primary and most encompassing French word for a 'coat' or 'overcoat' is un manteau. It generally refers to a heavier piece of outerwear worn for warmth, typically extending to the thigh or longer.

Unlike the broader English 'coat', un manteau is distinct from a lighter, shorter jacket, which would be called une veste or un blouson. You would wear un manteau in autumn or winter, while une veste might be suitable for a cool spring evening.

A crucial point for learners: manteau is a masculine noun. Always remember to use the masculine article, as in un manteau (a coat) or le manteau (the coat). This affects any adjectives describing it, for example, un beau manteau noir (a beautiful black coat).

The word can be made more specific to describe different types of coats. For example, you might encounter un manteau d'hiver (a winter coat), un manteau de pluie (a raincoat, though un imperméable is also common), or un trench-coat (a trench coat).

In France, a well-chosen manteau is often a key element of one's personal style during the colder months, serving both a practical and an aesthetic purpose. It's a staple in any French wardrobe.

💡 * N'oublie pas ton manteau, il va pleuvoir.

• J'ai acheté un nouveau manteau pour l'hiver.
• Son manteau est très élégant.
• Où puis-je suspendre mon manteau ?

The 'bomber' or 'leather jacket' – un blouson

A versatile and common French word for a specific type of casual jacket is un blouson.

A blouson is typically a short, waist-length jacket that is gathered at the waist and/or cuffs by a ribbed or elasticated band. It's the go-to term for many styles of casual, practical outerwear.

This single term covers several English concepts. A leather jacket is a blouson en cuir, and a bomber jacket is often called a blouson d'aviateur. Even a denim jacket can sometimes fall under this category, though veste en jean is more specific.

It's crucial not to confuse un blouson with une veste or un manteau. Une veste is a broader term for a jacket (including a blazer, un veston), while un manteau is a longer, heavier coat for cold weather. A blouson is specifically a short, casual jacket.

Always remember that blouson is a masculine noun. You will always say un blouson (a jacket) or le blouson (the jacket).

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau blouson en cuir pour l'automne. (I bought a new leather jacket for the fall.)

• Mets ton blouson, il commence à faire froid dehors. (Put on your jacket, it's starting to get cold outside.)
• Ce blouson d'aviateur te va parfaitement. (That bomber jacket fits you perfectly.)
• Mon blouson est bleu marine, et le tien ? (My jacket is navy blue, and yours?)

1. The 'windbreaker' – un coupe-vent

The French term for a 'windbreaker' or 'windcheater' is un coupe-vent. It refers to a light jacket designed to resist wind chill and light rain.

The word is a compound noun formed from the verb couper (to cut) and the noun vent (wind). Therefore, a coupe-vent is something that literally 'cuts the wind,' perfectly describing its function.

Un coupe-vent is a masculine noun, so you always use masculine articles like un or le. It's also an invariable noun, meaning its plural form is the same as the singular: des coupe-vent.

This term is used for practical outerwear suitable for cool, breezy, or drizzly days. It's a common piece of clothing for outdoor activities like hiking, running, or simply walking around town on an unpredictable day.

💡 * J'ai mis mon coupe-vent car il y a beaucoup de vent aujourd'hui. (I put on my windbreaker because it's very windy today.)

• N'oublie pas ton coupe-vent, il pourrait pleuvoir. (Don't forget your windbreaker, it might rain.)
• Ce coupe-vent bleu est très léger et pratique. (This blue windbreaker is very light and practical.)
• Pour la randonnée, un bon coupe-vent est essentiel. (For hiking, a good windbreaker is essential.)

The 'raincoat' – un imperméable

The standard French word for a 'raincoat' is un imperméable. The word itself gives a clue to its meaning: it comes from im- (a prefix for 'not') and perméable ('permeable' or 'porous'). So, it literally means 'not-permeable'—something that water cannot get through.

It's important to remember that imperméable is a masculine noun in French. Therefore, you always say un imperméable for 'a raincoat' and l'imperméable for 'the raincoat'. Any adjectives describing it must also be in the masculine form, for example, un imperméable bleu (a blue raincoat).

In casual, everyday conversation, French speakers often shorten un imperméable to un imper. This is a very common and natural-sounding abbreviation. Using un imper will make your spoken French sound more authentic in informal settings.

While un imperméable is the general term, you might also hear un trench (trench coat) or un K-Way® (a specific brand that has become a generic term for a light, foldable windbreaker). However, un imperméable is the most accurate and widely understood term specifically for a waterproof coat designed for rain.

💡 * N'oublie pas ton imperméable, le ciel est très gris. (Don't forget your raincoat, the sky is very gray.)

• J'ai acheté un nouvel imper pour l'automne. (I bought a new raincoat for the fall.)
• Son imperméable était trempé après l'averse. (His raincoat was soaked after the downpour.)
• Est-ce que cet imperméable est à toi ? (Is this raincoat yours?)

The 'down jacket' or 'puffer' – une doudoune

The 'down jacket' or 'puffer' – une doudoune

In French, the go-to word for a puffer or down jacket is une doudoune. The name itself evokes coziness, likely derived from the word doux (soft) and related to duvet (down feathers), which are traditionally used as the insulating filling. It perfectly describes the soft, quilted nature of the coat.

Une doudoune is a standard, universal term used across France by people of all ages. It's not slang or informal language; you'll hear it in everyday conversations, see it on price tags in high-end boutiques and sporting goods stores alike. It can describe everything from a lightweight, sleeveless vest (une doudoune sans manches) to a heavy-duty winter parka.

The doudoune is an absolute staple of the French winter wardrobe. From the fashionable streets of Paris to the ski slopes of the Alps, this practical and stylish piece of outerwear is ubiquitous. When you need to talk about a puffer jacket in French, une doudoune is the essential and most accurate word to use.

💡 * N'oublie pas ta doudoune, il fait très froid dehors !

• J'ai acheté une nouvelle doudoune pour mon voyage au Canada.
• Cette doudoune est très légère mais elle tient bien chaud.
• Je cherche une doudoune sans manches pour la mi-saison.

The 'cardigan' or 'sweater jacket' – un gilet

In French, the word for a 'cardigan' or an open-front 'sweater jacket' is un gilet. It refers to a knitted garment that opens down the front.

It's important to note that un gilet is a masculine noun. This distinguishes it from un pull (or un pull-over), which is a sweater you pull over your head and does not open at the front.

The term un gilet is also used more broadly to mean a 'vest' or 'waistcoat'. For example, un gilet de costume is a waistcoat worn with a suit, and un gilet de sauvetage is a life vest.

💡 * Il fait un peu froid, je vais mettre mon gilet. (It's a bit cold, I'm going to put on my cardigan.)

• J'ai acheté un joli gilet en laine pour l'hiver. (I bought a nice wool cardigan for the winter.)
• Pour le mariage, il portait un gilet sous sa veste de costume. (For the wedding, he wore a waistcoat under his suit jacket.)

The 'suit jacket' or 'blazer' – un veston

The 'suit jacket' or 'blazer' – un veston

The word un veston specifically refers to a man's suit jacket or a formal blazer. It is more precise than the general term une veste (a jacket).

You would use un veston when talking about the jacket that is part of a suit (un costume) or a similar standalone formal jacket. While une veste can mean any kind of jacket (from a denim jacket to a sports jacket), un veston carries a sense of formality and tailoring.

In many contexts, un veston can be used interchangeably with la veste de costume (the suit's jacket) to specify the type of garment.

💡 * Il a acheté un nouveau veston pour la conférence.

• N'oublie pas ton veston, il va faire frais ce soir.
• Le veston de son costume était parfaitement coupé.
• Il portait un simple veston gris sur une chemise blanche.

The formal 'overcoat' – un pardessus

The classic French term for a formal men's overcoat is un pardessus. This masculine noun refers to a long, elegant coat, typically worn over a suit or other formal attire, especially during colder months.

The word itself provides a clue to its function. It is derived from par-dessus, which literally translates to 'on top of' or 'over'. This perfectly describes its role as a garment worn over another complete outfit, such as a suit jacket.

Un pardessus is associated with a traditional, sophisticated style. It is often made of high-quality materials like wool or cashmere and is characterized by its length, which usually extends to the knee or below. You would not use this term for a casual jacket like a parka or a puffer jacket.

While un manteau is the general term for 'a coat' (for any gender), un pardessus is more specific. Think of it this way: every pardessus is a manteau, but not every manteau is a pardessus. The term pardessus specifically implies a formal, classic men's overcoat.

💡 * Il portait un élégant pardessus gris par-dessus son costume.

• Pour l'hiver, j'ai besoin d'acheter un nouveau pardessus en laine.
• Il a laissé son pardessus au vestiaire en arrivant au théâtre.
• Ce pardessus est un peu démodé, mais il est de très bonne qualité.

Are there other ways to say 'jacket' in French?

Are there other ways to say “jacket” in French?

Our list features the most common and essential words for “jacket” in French, from une veste to un blouson. However, the world of French fashion and vocabulary is vast, with many other terms for specific styles, technical outerwear, or regional variations you might encounter.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for a specific type of jacket you're interested in, for example, “comment dire 'denim jacket' en français” or searching for “manteaux et vestes” on French retail websites.

When you find a new word, always check the context. Is it a formal trench coat (un trench), a sporty windbreaker (un coupe-vent), or a cozy down jacket (une doudoune)? Understanding the context will help you use the word correctly.

Pay attention when you watch French films or TV shows, or even while window shopping in a French-speaking city. You'll notice the rich vocabulary used to describe clothing and outerwear, which is a great way to learn organically.

For a deeper dive into different types of jackets and related fashion terms, the Larousse or WordReference online dictionaries are excellent resources. They often provide synonyms and example sentences that clarify usage.

I hope this guide helps you feel more confident when talking about outerwear in French. To end, here’s a fitting quote from French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent: Les modes passent, le style est éternel. (Fashions fade, style is eternal.)