German Conversation · Level 93
60 words
German word
kleiden
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈklaɪ̯dən/
Meaning
- verbdress
Example
Er kleidet sich elegant.
He dresses elegantly.
More examples
Das Kleid kleidet sie wunderbar.
The dress suits her wonderfully.
Core concept
A person receives clothing that covers the body or creates an appearance suited to that person.
Common phrases
sich kleiden dem Anlass entsprechend
dress appropriately for the occasion
sich kleiden formell
dress formally
Similar words
anziehen: The act of putting clothing onto the body.
tragen: The state of having clothing or accessories on the body.
passen: Being the right size or shape for the body.
stehen: Giving a person an attractive appearance and a good impression.
Definition in German
jemandem Kleidung geben oder Kleidung so wählen bzw. tragen, dass sie zur Person passt.
Word origin
The verb kleiden was formed from the clothing noun Kleid; Middle High German kleiden already had the sense of giving clothing, while later usage also described how clothing suits someone.
Usage tips
- For everyday 'put on clothes', German usually uses sich anziehen, while sich kleiden emphasizes manner or style.