In this article, I’ll explain the differences between five common Italian verbs related to clothing: mettersi, vestirsi, vestire, indossare, and portare. These verbs are not interchangeable! Many students confuse these verbs because they all relate to wearing clothes, but they’re used in different contexts.
Mettersi
Mettersi is a reflexive verb that means “to put on oneself.” We use it to describe the action of putting a specific item of clothing on your body. Mettersi has the same meaning as “to wear” and it’s more common than indossare in everyday speech.
Examples:
- Mi metto il cappello. (I put on the hat.)
- Cosa ti metti per la festa? (What are you wearing to the party?)
- Mi sono messo le scarpe nere. (I put on the black shoes.)
Vestirsi
Vestirsi is a reflexive verb meaning “to get dressed” or “to dress oneself.” We use it to talk about the general action of dressing yourself, not about specific items.
Examples:
- Mi vesto per andare a lavoro. (I get dressed for work.)
- Si veste sempre elegantemente. (He/she always dresses elegantly.)
- Mi sono vestito in fretta. (I got dressed quickly.)
Common Mistake
- ❌ Mi vesto una giacca – This is incorrect!
- ✅ Mi metto una giacca – This is correct!
Vestirsi is never followed by a direct object (the item of clothing). When you want to mention the specific clothing item, use mettersi instead.
Vestire
Vestire (without the reflexive “si”) has two main uses:
- To dress someone else
- To describe style in a general way
Examples:
- La mamma veste il bambino. (The mother dresses the child.)
- Vestire di nero è elegante. (Dressing in black is elegant.)
- Lei veste sempre alla moda. (She always dresses fashionably.)
Indossare
Indossare means “to wear” and refers to having clothing on your body. It’s more formal than the other options and often used in fashion contexts.
Examples:
- Indosso una camicia bianca. (I’m wearing a white shirt.)
- La modella indossa un vestito rosso. (The model is wearing a red dress.)
- Per la cerimonia, indosserò un completo. (For the ceremony, I will wear a suit.)
Portare
While primarily meaning “to carry” or “to bring,” portare can also mean “to wear” in certain contexts, especially with accessories or when talking about how someone “carries” a style.
Examples:
- Porto gli occhiali da quando ero bambino. (I’ve worn glasses since I was a child.)
- Porta sempre la cravatta al lavoro. (He always wears a tie to work.)
- Non porto mai i sandali. (I never wear sandals.)
