clothing / covering
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clothing
A general, somewhat more formal term for all types of clothes that people wear on their bodies.
Das Kaufhaus bietet eine große Auswahl an Bekleidung für Damen, Herren und Kinder.
The department store offers a large selection of clothing for women, men, and children.
'Bekleidung' (clothing/covering) is derived from the verb 'bekleiden' (to clothe/to cover), which means 'etwas bedecken' (to cover something). The ending '-ung' turns it into a noun. This origin explains both meanings: covering a body with clothes and covering a surface with material.
Die richtige Bekleidung ist beim Wandern im Gebirge sehr wichtig.
The right clothing is very important when hiking in the mountains.
'Bekleidung' (clothing) is a somewhat more formal and more general term than the everyday word 'Kleidung' (clothes/clothing). You often find it in shops, in advertising, or in official descriptions.
Unser Sortiment umfasst hochwertige Bekleidung für jede Jahreszeit.
Our range includes high-quality clothing for every season.
'Bekleidung' (clothing) is a collective noun. Even when talking about many different items of clothing, the word is almost always used in the singular.
Bitte geben Sie Ihre Mäntel und sonstige Bekleidung an der Garderobe ab.
Please leave your coats and other clothing at the cloakroom.
You can recognize the second meaning in a technical or craft context. Here it always refers to a protective or decorative covering for an object, for example a house wall or a machine.
Die innere Bekleidung des Tunnels besteht aus feuerfesten Platten.
The inner lining of the tunnel consists of fire-resistant panels.
clothing
'die Kleidung' and 'die Bekleidung' can both mean all the things people wear on their bodies. In everyday language, people usually say 'Kleidung'. 'Bekleidung' sounds more general and somewhat more formal. You often see it in stores, on signs, in rules, or in texts about work and safety. Learners may confuse the words because their meanings are very similar. For normal conversations, 'Kleidung' is usually more natural; 'Bekleidung' fits better in official or factual contexts.
Für die Reise haben wir leichte Bekleidung und bequeme Schuhe eingepackt.
For the trip, we packed light clothing and comfortable shoes.
Nach dem Regen ist deine Kleidung ganz nass geworden.
After the rain, your clothes got completely wet.