lingerie
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lingerie
A term for especially fine, fashionable, or seductive women's underwear. In German, the word is used almost exclusively in the plural.
Im Schaufenster wurden elegante Dessous aus Seide und Spitze gezeigt.
Elegant lingerie made of silk and lace was displayed in the shop window.
'Dessous' is a word from French and literally means 'underneath' there. In German, it is used specifically for elegant women's underwear that is worn 'underneath'.
Sie kaufte sich für einen besonderen Anlass neue Dessous.
She bought herself new lingerie for a special occasion.
The word 'Dessous' (lingerie) is almost always used as a plural word in German, even when speaking about just one set. So you say 'die Dessous sind schön' (the lingerie is beautiful) and not 'das Dessous ist schön'.
Ihre neuen Dessous waren in einer eleganten Schachtel verpackt.
Her new lingerie was packaged in an elegant box.
The term 'Dessous' (lingerie) is not used for every kind of underwear. It specifically describes fine, fashionable, or seductive underwear, often made from materials such as lace or silk.
Das Geschäft ist auf hochwertige Dessous spezialisiert.
The shop specializes in high-quality lingerie.
laundry
'die Wäsche' and 'die Dessous' can both mean underwear. Here, 'Wäsche' is the more general and neutral term, especially for underwear or nightwear. 'Dessous' refers especially to fine, fashionable, or seductive women's underwear and is almost always used in the plural. Learners may confuse the words because both appear in shops or when talking about underwear. If you want to speak neutrally, 'Wäsche' is more suitable. If you are talking about elegant women's underwear, people are more likely to say 'Dessous'.
Im Schaufenster lagen schwarze Dessous aus Spitze.
Black lace lingerie was displayed in the shop window.
Frau Schmidt kauft neue Wäsche für den Alltag.
Mrs. Schmidt buys new underwear for everyday use.