ドレス

• Reading: ドレス
• Romaji: doresu
• Pronunciation: /do.ɾe.sɯ/

Meaning

Dress; a formal or elegant garment, especially for women.

A loanword noun from English 'dress,' in Japanese typically referring to a formal, elegant dress rather than everyday clothing. Common compounds: ウェディングドレス (wedingu doresu, wedding dress), ドレスコード (doresu koodo, dress code). For everyday dresses, ワンピース (wanpiisu) is more commonly used in Japanese.

Examples

1. 結婚式のために白いドレスを選んだ。 I picked out a white dress for the wedding.
2. パーティーでは赤いドレスを着た女性が目立っていた。 A woman in a red dress stood out at the party.
3. 姉は子供の頃からドレスを着るのが好きだった。 My older sister has loved wearing dresses ever since she was little.

Usage Guide

Context: fashion, formal events, weddings

Tone: elegant

Origin & History

Borrowed from English 'dress.' In Japanese usage, the word narrowed to primarily refer to formal women's attire, while everyday dresses are more commonly called ワンピース (one-piece).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal