In this article, I’ll explain the differences between five common Italian verbs related to clothing: mettersi, vestirsi, vestire, indossare, and portare. They all have to do with clothes, so many students mix them up, but they’re not interchangeable: each one has its own job.
In short
- Mettersi qualcosa: to put something on (and, in everyday talk, what you wear for an occasion)
- Vestirsi: to get dressed, with no item after it
- Vestire qualcuno: to dress someone else, or to describe a style
- Indossare: to wear, a bit more formal (fashion, ceremonies, written Italian)
- Portare: to wear habitually, especially glasses, accessories, sizes and hairstyles
Mettersi: to put on
Mettersi is a reflexive verb that means “to put on.” We use it to describe the action of putting a specific item of clothing on your body. In everyday Italian, it’s also the most natural way to say what you’re going to wear: Cosa ti metti stasera? It’s much more common than indossare in everyday speech.
Examples:
- Mi metto il cappello. (I put on my hat.)
- Cosa ti metti per la festa? (What are you wearing to the party?)
- Mi sono messo le scarpe nere. (I put on my black shoes.)
Vestirsi: to get dressed
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 al lavoro. (I get dressed to go to work.)
- Si veste sempre in modo elegante. (He/she always dresses elegantly.)
- Mi sono vestita in fretta. (I got dressed in a hurry.)
- Stasera mi vesto di nero. (Tonight I’m dressing in black.)
Common mistake
- ❌ Mi vesto una giacca
- ✅ Mi metto una giacca
Vestirsi is never followed by a direct object (the item of clothing). When you want to name the item, use mettersi. You can say vestirsi di + color (vestirsi di bianco) or vestirsi da + costume (vestirsi da pirata).
Vestire: to dress someone (or to dress in a style)
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: to wear (more formal)
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, descriptions and written Italian.
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: to wear glasses, sizes and accessories
While it mainly means “to carry” or “to bring,” portare can also mean “to wear,” especially with accessories, glasses, sizes, or when talking about how someone usually wears something.
Examples:
- Porto gli occhiali da quando ero bambina. (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.)
- Porto la taglia M. (I wear a size M.)
Mettersi, vestirsi, vestire, indossare or portare? Quick comparison
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mettersi | to put on | Mi metto il cappotto. |
| vestirsi | to get dressed | Mi vesto in cinque minuti. |
| vestire | to dress someone / a style | Vesto mia figlia. |
| indossare | to wear (formal) | Indossa un abito da sera. |
| portare | to wear (habitually) | Porto gli occhiali. |
Exercise: which verb?
Complete with the right form of mettersi, vestirsi, vestire, indossare or portare.
- Aspetta, ______ le scarpe e arrivo! (io)
- La mattina ______ in cinque minuti. (lei)
- Mio padre ______ gli occhiali da sole anche d’inverno.
- La sposa ______ un abito bianco di seta. (formal)
- Cosa ______ per il matrimonio di Giulia? (tu)
- Il papà ______ il bambino prima di andare all’asilo.
Show the answers
- mi metto
- si veste
- porta
- indossa
- ti metti
- veste
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between vestirsi and mettersi?
Vestirsi means “to get dressed” and is never followed by the item of clothing (Mi vesto). Mettersi means “to put on” and needs the item (Mi metto la giacca).
How do you say “to wear” in Italian?
In everyday Italian, use mettersi or portare: Cosa ti metti? Porto gli occhiali. Indossare also means “to wear” but sounds more formal, like in fashion or written descriptions.
Is vestirsi reflexive?
Yes. Vestirsi is reflexive (mi vesto, ti vesti, si veste) and takes essere in the passato prossimo: Mi sono vestita.
Practice with my stories
The best way to fix these verbs in your head is to meet them in a story. My short stories for beginners are full of everyday Italian like this. Here are three to try:
Due Amiche e un Album di Fotografie
Level A1
Two friends, an old photo album and lots of everyday Italian.
Dive deeper:
