Written by Miranda González
It’s fall here in the Northern Hemisphere, so things are starting to get a bit chilly. You should probably grab something warm to wear on your way out the door – a sweater, perhaps? A sweatshirt? A cardigan? Should you wear a jacket or a coat? What’s the difference between all of these, anyway? Well, English learners, you are about find out.
This man is wearing a sweater.
It’s made out of knitted material, and it usually has sleeves to keep you toasty. However, sweater vests and sleeveless sweaters do exist, which have no sleeves. A sweater can come with or without zippers, pockets, or buttons.
This is a cardigan.
It’s a specific type of sweater that has buttons down the front and opens like a jacket. Notice that it is also knitted.
This is a sweatshirt.
It looks similar to a sweater, but the material is usually softer and thicker. It’s also more comfortable and is often used for athletic activities or simply relaxing. If you have a hard time distinguishing between the two, think sweater = dressy/formal and sweatshirt = casual/informal.
This is a hooded sweatshirt, or simply, a hoodie.
Some people also just call this a sweatshirt as well. Like a regular sweatshirt, it’s a very casual way to keep yourself warm.
This is a turtleneck.
This one is made out of regular shirt material, but turtleneck sweaters are also very common. It has a high collar that covers your neck.
This is a denim jacket.
But jackets can be made out of all sorts of material. They are worn over your shirt and open to the front with buttons or a zipper. They are usually lighter and shorter than a coat.
This little girl is wearing a coat.
A lot of people use the words “jacket” and “coat” interchangeably, but generally a coat is thicker, heavier, and longer than a jacket.
Which of these do you like to wear when the weather cools off?
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