01
die Weste
vest
A sleeveless item of clothing worn over a shirt or blouse and often under a jacket.
example
Zu seinem dreiteiligen Anzug trug er eine passende Weste.
He wore a matching vest with his three-piece suit.
die Weste
vest
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical verbs
Like other items of clothing, vests are combined with the verbs 'tragen' (to wear), 'anziehen' (to put on), or 'anhaben' (to have on). For protective vests, the verb 'anlegen' (to put on) is also common.
EXAMPLE
Für das Fest hat er eine elegante Weste angezogen.
He put on an elegant vest for the celebration.
Special vests
The word 'Weste' (vest) is often the base word in compounds that describe a protective or safety function. The first part of the word explains the exact purpose.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Boot müssen alle eine Schwimmweste tragen.
On the boat, everyone has to wear a life jacket.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'eine weiße Weste haben' literally means 'to have a white vest'. It is a fixed expression meaning that someone is innocent or has a spotless reputation, as if their clothing were symbolically clean.
EXAMPLE
Er behauptet, er habe eine weiße Weste, aber die Beweise sprechen gegen ihn.
He claims he has a clean record, but the evidence speaks against him.
Compare with
Weste vs Jacke
jacket
'die Jacke' and 'die Weste' are both items of clothing that you can wear on the upper body over other clothing. The most important difference is the sleeves. A jacket has sleeves and therefore also protects the arms. A vest has no sleeves; it mainly warms or protects the upper body. Learners may confuse the words because both are worn over a shirt, sweater, or T-shirt. 'Jacke' fits better for cold, wind, or rain outdoors. 'Weste' fits when the arms should remain free, or for special protective vests such as 'eine Warnweste' (a high-visibility vest) or 'eine Schwimmweste' (a life jacket).
Weste
Auf der Baustelle trägt jeder eine gelbe Weste.
On the construction site, everyone wears a yellow vest.
Jacke
Der Verkäufer zeigt mir eine leichte Jacke für den Frühling.
The salesperson shows me a light jacket for spring.
In real life
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