Pinafores: Foreign Language Terms


Figure 1.--

Because of the confusion over aprons and smocks, in many foreign languages there is no one definative work for pinafore. A HBC reader writes, "It is a hopeless task to try and look for a 1 to 1 relation of many clothing terms in various languages. Problem is that different languages stress different aspects. This works both ways. English has not, to my knowledge, a single term that covers, like French "tablier" and Dutch "schort", all protective clothing above and below the waist. It does have apron for such garments below the waist." The Dutch would usually say "schort" (equivalent to French tablier, but this may also mean apron or smock. Kinderschort (childrens’ apron) would be appropriate in many cases. There is no single French term for pinafore. Different terms are used, depending on the style of the garment. "Tablier" is probably the most common term, but this also means smock. Germans may use "Kinderschuerze" to describe a child's pinafore. In German Schürze means "apron" thus "Kinderschuerze" means a child's apron as there is no precise term for pinafore. Some HBC readers have asked why we give such emphasis to foreign languages. This primarily because to limit HBC to England and America would make it impossible to fully assess boys' fashion and clothing. We also want to make our site accessable to foreign readers as well as to assist English readers working with foreign language sources. HBC does not expect to find a precise equivlent foreign language term for every garment and style. We are attempting to find a comparable word or how the garment is described. The lack of a precise ord is in interesting in itself and reflects on the geral importance of these garments. In addition, the words used and their etymology provides valuable insights into fashion history.

National Terms

Because of the confusion over pinafores, aprons, and smocks, in many foreign languages there is no one definative work for pinafore. The English words for smocks, aprons, and pinafores are destinctive words. This is not the case in many foreign languages. A HBC reader writes, "It is a hopeless task to try and look for a 1 to 1 relation of many clothing terms in various languages. Problem is that different languages stress different aspects. This works both ways. English has not, to my knowledge, a single term that covers, like French "tablier" and Dutch "schort", all protective clothing above and below the waist. It does have apron for such garments below the waist." The Portuguese use "avental. In Spanish the term "delantal" is often used, but that is often used for smocks as well. I am not sure about other foreign language terms. We would be very interested if any of our readers could provide the term for "pinafore" in other languages.

Danish


Dutch

The Dutch would usually say "schort" (equivalent to French tablier, but this may also mean apron or smock. Kinderschort (childrens’ apron) would be appropriate in many cases. If a Dutch speaker wanted to unequivocally refer to a pinafore, he could say "mouwloos schort" (sleeveless apron), but this is coined on the spot, for descriptive purposes only. Dutch has no clear-cut equivalent to apron. A Dutch reader would have to use a descriptive term like lendenschort (loin apron) to limit its use to below the waist. Yet I can tell you right away 5 different Dutch apron words that will limit the garments’ use to a specific place, gender or time and curiously here 'below the waist' is implicit. Schootsvel is for a butcher or a blacksmith only. Evaatje is a smallish apron for women in a kitchen. Sloof is a larger one for the same. Voorschoot may be used by both men and women. Boezelaar takes us back in time to the early 20th century or indicates that the apron is part of a traditional costume. These words in turn could only be rendered by descriptive terms in English.

French

There is no single French term for pinafore. Different terms are used, depending on the style of the garment. "Tablier" is probably the most common term, but this also means smock. Other terms are: robe à bretelles, robe bain de soleil, and "robe anglaise (if the pinafore is very simple without belt). All of the terms can be used for other garments besides pinafores. A French Canadian reader tells us, "A pinafore is called "tablier" in French. No relation with a table or a desk. A pinafore was used by women, girls and also cooks in kitchens for service at tables. Never forget that this job was mainly women's one. In France, a child was and is expected to be quiet like an image (sage comme une image)." This is interesting. I have always wondered why a smock was called a "tablier" in French. Our reader provides an interesting insight. Of course smocks and pinafors were not used by mothers and waitresses to serve food, but aprons were. Thus the pinafore my have evolved from a apron, being adopted for children's clothes. The smock appears to have developed from worker's protective clothing, but in France the term for aprons and pinafores ppeas to be have been extended to smocks as well as children wore both garments and the putpose was similar. Hopefull French readrs will provide us further insights as to the entmology of tablier.

German

Germans may use "Kinderschuerze" to describe a child's pinafore. In German Schürze means "apron" thus "Kinderschuerze" means a child's apron as there is no precise term for pinafore.

Italian


Portuguese

The Portuguese use "avental.

Spanish

In Spanish the term "delantal" is often used, but that is often used for smocks as well.

Other languages

I am not sure about other foreign language terms. We would be very interested if any of our readers could provide the term for "pinafore" in other languages.

Importance

Some HBC readers have asked why we give such emphasis to foreign languages. This primarily because to limit HBC to England and America would make it impossible to fully assess boys' fashion and clothing. We also want to make our site accessable to foreign readers as well as to assist English readers working with foreign language sources.

Insights

HBC does not expect to find a precise equivlent foreign language term for every garment and style. We are attempting to find a comparable word or how the garment is described. The lack of a precise ord is in interesting in itself and reflects on the geral importance of these garments. In addition, the words used and their etymology provides valuable insights into fashion history.







HBC





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Created: September 8, 2002
Last updated: 7:00 PM 8/15/2005