7 Konglish Korean Fashion Terms — From Crop-T (크롭티) to Stockings (스타킹)

💝 Lost in Translation? Discover 7 Konglish Korean Fashion Terms You Hear Everywhere – Part 8


Konglish Series Korean Fashion Terms – Learn everyday Korean clothing expressions with Hangeulia

안녕하세요. I'm Hangeulia ^-^

Welcome back to the Konglish Series! 👚 In Korean fashion stores and online shops, you’ll often see words that look like English but aren’t used that way by native speakers. Today’s lesson is all about fit, size, and style — the everyday fashion words Koreans use when shopping or chatting about clothes. You’ll hear expressions like 크롭티 (Crop-T), 오버핏 (Over Fit), and 빅사이즈 (Big Size) — let’s find out what they really mean! 👕

By the end of this post, you’ll be able to recognize these words instantly and explain them naturally in English — no more guessing while shopping. ^^



💜 Crop-T (Keu-rop-ti, 크롭티)


Situation
Two friends shopping for summer clothes.

Dialogue
A: 이 크롭티 살까?
(i keu-rop-ti sal-kka?)
B: 응, 귀엽다. 너랑 잘 어울릴 것 같아.
(eung, gwi-yeop-da. neo-rang jal eo-ul-lil geot gat-a)

Natural English
A: Should I buy this crop top?
B: Yeah, it’s cute — it’ll look good on you.


💛 Story Note
In English, say crop top, not “crop T.” In Korea, people say 크롭티 (crop-T) for short tops that reveal the waist. Crop tops were very popular in earlier K-pop fashion, and with the comeback of early-2000s Y2K style, they’ve become trendy again and continue to stay in Korean street fashion today. So when shopping in Korea, say 크롭티; in English, say crop top.

  • 크롭티 (crop-T) = crop top


💜 Kara-T (Ka-ra-ti, 카라티)


Situation
Two friends preparing for a presentation.

Dialogue
A: 내일 발표 때 카라티 입을까?
(nae-il bal-pyo ttae ka-ra-ti i-beul-kka?)
B: 응, 그게 단정해 보일 것 같아.
(eung, geu-gae dan-jeong-hae bo-il geot gat-a)

Natural English
A: Should I wear a polo shirt for tomorrow’s presentation?
B: Yeah, it looks neat and tidy.


💛 Story Note
In English, we say polo shirt, not “collar T.” The Korean word 카라티 (Kara-T) actually comes from the English word “collar.” It literally means a “collar T-shirt” — a casual T-shirt with a small collar. But be careful: in Korea, if you say 폴로셔츠 (polo shirt), many people think of a specific brand like Polo Ralph Lauren. So in Korea, say 카라티; in English, say polo shirt.

  • 카라티 (kara-T) = polo shirt


💜 Wide Fit (Wai-deu-pit, 와이드핏)


Situation
Two friends browsing jeans.

Dialogue
A: 이거 청바지 어때?
(i-geo cheong-ba-ji eo-ttae?)
B: 아까 와이드핏이 더 나은 것 같아.
(ak-ka wai-deu-pit-i deo na-eun geot gat-a)

Natural English
A: How about these jeans?
B: I think the wide-leg ones looked better.


💛 Story Note
In English, say wide-leg pants or loose fit. In Korea, people say 와이드핏 (wide fit) for roomy pants or straight-cut jeans.
👉 Note: in English, “wide fit” is usually used for shoes or footwear sizes,
while in Korea it describes clothing styles. During the 2010s, skinny jeans dominated fashion — think of the “Gee” era in K-pop. In recent years, wide and loose fits have taken over street trends, and now we’re seeing subtle hints of slim-fit styles making a small comeback — not a full revival yet, but it’s starting to reappear.
So in Korea, ask for 와이드핏; in English, say wide-leg or loose-fit.

  • 와이드핏 (wide fit) = wide-leg pants / loose fit


💜 Span (Seu-pan, 스판)


Situation
Two friends checking out jeans.

Dialogue
A: 그 청바지 잘 어울리는데?
(geu cheong-ba-ji jal eo-ul-li-neun-de?)
B: 그래? 스판 바지라 편하네~
(geu-rae? seu-pan ba-ji-ra pyeon-ha-ne~)

Natural English
A: Those jeans look great on you.
B: Really? They’re comfy — they’ve got spandex in them.


💛 Story Note
In English, we say stretch fabric or “with spandex.” In Korea, any stretchy material is called 스판 (span). So in Korea, say 스판; in English, say stretchy material or spandex fabric.

  • 스판 (span) = stretch / spandex material


💜 Stockings (Seu-ta-king, 스타킹)


Situation
Two coworkers on their way to work.

Dialogue
A: 으앗~ 스타킹에 코났다!
(eu-at~ seu-ta-king-e ko-nat-da!)
B: 진짜? 가는 길에 하나 사자.
(jin-jja? pyeon-ui-jeom ga-neun gil-e ha-na sa-ja)

Natural English
A: Oh no, I got a run in my tights!
B: Really? Let’s stop by and grab a new pair on the way.


💛 Story Note
For office wear in English, say tights or pantyhose. In Korea, everyone calls them 스타킹 (stockings). So in Korea, say 스타킹; in English, say tights or pantyhose.

  • 스타킹 (stockings) = tights / pantyhose


💜 Over Fit (O-beo-pit, 오버핏)


Situation
Two friends shopping for shirts.

Dialogue
A: 오버핏 셔츠 사려구.
(o-beo-pit syeo-cheu sa-ryeo-gu)
B: 여기 이거 어때?
(yeo-gi i-geo eo-ttae?)

Natural English
A: I’m thinking of getting an oversized shirt.
B: How about this one?


💛 Story Note
In English, use oversized or loose fit. In Korea, the natural word is 오버핏 (over fit) for big, comfy tops. So in Korea, ask for 오버핏; in English, say oversized.

  • 오버핏 (over fit) = oversized / loose fit


💜 Big Size (Big-sa-i-jeu, 빅사이즈)


Situation
Two friends shopping online.

Dialogue
A: 여기엔 근데 빅사이즈가 많이 없네.
(yeo-gi-en geun-de big-sa-i-jeu-ga man-i eop-ne)
B: 그치? 그럼 우리 이따가 이태원도 가볼까?
(geu-chi? geu-reom u-ri i-tta-ga i-tae-won-do ga-bol-kka?)

Natural English
A: There aren’t many plus-size options here.
B: Yeah, should we check out Itaewon later?


💛 Story Note
In English, we say plus size, not “big size.” Calling someone “big size” can sound rude in English, but in Korea, 빅사이즈 is a neutral and commonly used store term for larger clothing. There are even 빅사이즈 전문점 (specialty shops) in areas like Itaewon, where you can find trendy plus-size fashion easily. So when you’re shopping abroad, say plus size; in Korea, say 빅사이즈.

  • 빅사이즈 (big size) = plus size


💜 FAQ — Konglish Fashion Terms in Korea

Q1. Is “over fit” the same as “wide fit” in Korean fashion?
Not exactly. In Korea, 오버핏 (over fit) usually describes tops like shirts or T-shirts that are intentionally oversized. 와이드핏 (wide fit) is more commonly used for pants, meaning wide-leg or loose-cut bottoms. Both suggest a relaxed silhouette, but they’re used for different clothing items.

Q2. Why do Koreans say “crop-T” instead of “crop top”?
In Korean, 티 (T) is short for “T-shirt,” so 크롭티 (crop-T) naturally developed as a shortened form. In English, however, people say crop top, not “crop T.” This is a typical example of how English words are adapted into Korean fashion vocabulary.

Q3. What does “span” mean when shopping for clothes in Korea?
스판 (span) refers to any fabric that stretches. It usually means the clothing contains spandex or elastic material. In English, you wouldn’t say “span pants” — instead, you’d say stretch pants or pants with spandex.

Q4. Is “big size” a polite term in Korea?
Yes. In Korea, 빅사이즈 (big size) is a neutral and common store term for larger clothing sizes. In English, however, calling something “big size” can sound awkward or impolite. That’s why English speakers usually say plus size instead.

Q5. Why do Korean fashion terms look like English but sound strange to native speakers?
These words are part of Konglish — English-based terms that evolved inside Korean culture. They became fixed expressions through online shopping malls, fashion brands, and everyday use. Learning these terms helps you understand how Koreans actually talk about fit, size, and style.



💜 Quick Recap


Before wrapping things up, let’s do a quick recap of the Konglish fashion terms and what they mean in natural English. ^^

  • 크롭티 (crop-T) = crop top
  • 카라티 (kara-T) = polo shirt
  • 와이드핏 (wide fit) = wide-leg pants / loose fit
  • 스판 (span) = stretch / spandex material
  • 스타킹 (stockings) = tights / pantyhose
  • 오버핏 (over fit) = oversized / loose fit
  • 빅사이즈 (big size) = plus size


💜 Final Thoughts


You did it! 🎉 Now you can decode some of the most common Konglish fashion words you’ll see in Korea. These Konglish fashion terms appear frequently in Korean stores, online shops, and everyday conversations. When you come across words like 오버핏 or 스판 while shopping, you’ll know exactly what they mean and how to translate them naturally. Keep learning these fun expressions and you’ll sound more local every time you talk about fashion. 🛍️

Soon, you'll not only understand the words — you'll understand the culture behind them too.💕


With love,
한글리아 😊



Part 8 of the Konglish series — ← Previous: Part 7. 7 Konglish Korean Clothing Terms — From Padding (패딩) to Hood-T (후드티) | → Next: Part 9. 7 Konglish Korean Shopping Terms — From Open Run (오픈런) to One Plus One (원플러스원)

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