Meaning & use
lederhosen
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Meaning
nounplural
Traditional leather shorts or knee-length trousers with a bib front and straps, worn by men and boys in Bavaria, Austria and nearby regions, especially at festivals.
Grammar: Takes a plural verb: the lederhosen are old. Say 'a pair of lederhosen' to count them.
Patterns
- a pair of lederhosen
- wear lederhosen
He turned up at the Oktoberfest table in lederhosen and a feathered hat.
My grandfather's lederhosen were so stiff that they stood up on their own.
The children's choir wore matching lederhosen and embroidered white shirts.
Common combinations
- a pair of lederhosen
- She bought a pair of lederhosen for her son's school festival.
- wear lederhosen
- Many locals wear lederhosen during the autumn beer festival.
- traditional lederhosen
- Traditional lederhosen are often decorated with fine embroidery.
- leather lederhosen
- Leather lederhosen can last for decades if they are looked after.
Synonyms and how they differ
- leather shorts
- This is a plain description in English, whereas lederhosen names the specific Alpine costume with its cultural meaning.
- breeches
- Breeches are knee-length trousers of any fabric and period, while lederhosen are always leather and Alpine.
- dirndl
- A dirndl is the women's equivalent traditional dress, not a synonym, so it only fits as a matching term.
Word family
- Tracht noun
- German word for traditional regional costume, of which lederhosen are one part
- Bavarian adjective
- relating to Bavaria, where lederhosen are best known
Commonly confused: lederhosen or leather trousers?
lederhosen vs leather trousers
Leather trousers are modern fashion or motorcycle clothing; lederhosen are the traditional Alpine garment.
Practice
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose one answer.
Lederhosen is plural in form and takes a plural verb, so 'are' fits. 'Is' and 'a' treat it as singular, and 'lederhose' is not an English word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lederhosen”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.