When the temperature starts to drop, you’ll need an extra layer. The problem? Outerwear is a whole vocabulary of its own. There are many names for jackets and coats in Italian, each tied to a specific style, and mixing them up can lead to some confusing shopping moments (like looking for a sleek trench and ending up with a marshmallow-style down jacket!). So, here’s a breakdown of the key terms to help you say exactly what you mean.
The 3 basic terms for jacket/coat in Italian
These three core words will be the foundation of your Italian outerwear vocabulary:
La Giacca (Jacket)
Giacca is the general term for any “jacket” or “blazer.” Depending on the cut and material, it can be elegante (elegant) or casual, leggera (light) or pesante (heavy). Common types include:
- Una giacca sportiva: a casual sport jacket
- Una giacca a quadri / a fantasia: a patterned or checked jacket/blazer
- Una giacca di velluto a coste: a corduroy jacket/blazer
- Una giacca monopetto: A single-breasted jacket/blazer
- Una giacca doppiopetto: A double-breasted jacket/blazer
- Una giacca da completo: A suit jacket
- Una giacca da smoking: A tuxedo jacket
Non trovo più la mia giacca sportiva rossa.
I can’t find my red sport jacket anymore.
Il Giubbotto (Casual jacket)
Giubbotto is the sporty, zip-up alternative to a traditional jacket. It’s shorter, and perfect for a weekend road trip or a casual stroll.
Interestingly, this word also pops up in situations where “staying alive” is the priority, such as:
- Il giubbotto salvagente: Life jacket (literally, a “save-life” jacket)
- Il giubbotto antiproiettile: Bulletproof vest
Non dimenticare il giubbotto che fa freddo!
Don’t forget your jacket, it’s cold!
Il Cappotto (Coat)
Il cappotto is the classic coat: long, warm, and always elegant. If it’s especially cute, we switch to the diminutive form, cappottino. We use this word also for children’s coats, and even for dog jackets (il cappottino per il cane).
You might hear a heavy coat called a paltò or paletò in certain regions (I think mostly Lombardy or Piedmont). It’s a word most probably borrowed from the French paletot, which was the quintessential coat worn in 19th-century France. It’s a bit of an old-fashioned term, but it carries a certain, undeniable charm.
Moving away from clothing, cappotto termico (literally, “thermal coat”) is what we say in Italian to describe the insulation system applied to a building’s walls, improving energy efficiency.
And here’s another fun fact: the idiom fare cappotto (literally, “to make coat”) is used in games and sports to mean winning so completely that your opponent doesn’t score a single point. It has absolutely nothing to do with outerwear, so if you’re playing scopa (a traditional card game) and someone says they made a cappotto, don’t ask to see the fabric!
Che bello questo cappotto! È nuovo?
This coat is so nice! Is it new?
Warm jackets and coats
When it’s cold, you’ll want something with a bit more “substance.” Here’s a list of the warmest pieces for winter.
Il Giaccone (Heavy jacket)
In Italian, adding the suffix -one to a word makes it “big.” So, a giaccone is literally a “big jacket,” the kind built to handle cold temperatures. Heavier than a standard giacca, it usually comes down to mid-thigh and is often nicely padded. Cozy and casual, it comes in many variations, such as:
- Un giaccone di pelle: A heavy, leather jacket
- Un giaccone di lana: A chunky wool jacket
- Un giaccone imbottito: A padded or down-filled jacket
Ho comprato questo giaccone di pelle. Era in saldo.
I bought this heavy leather jacket. It was discounted.
Il Montgomery (Duffle coat)
If you’re after a smart-casual coat with a touch of old-school scholarly charm, then you’ll need a montgomery. Instantly recognizable by its mid-thigh length, protective hood, and iconic alamari (toggles), this coat was originally a sturdy piece of clothing of the British Royal Navy, later popularized by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery during WWII.
Il Piumino (Down jacket)
Named for the piuma (feather) that keeps it warm, the piumino is our best friend on freezing days. It’s the classic quilted jacket filled with animal down—or, more often today, with synthetic padding that does the same job without using our feathered friends.
There are two main varieties:
- II piumino leggero: the lightweight puffer perfect for crisp autumn days.
- lI piumino imbottito: the heavy version for Alpine adventures or a snowy day in the city.
Fun fact: in Italian homes, the word piumino can also refer to the cozy duvet in our bed and even the feather duster used for cleaning!
Ho lasciato il mio piumino in macchina. Fa caldo oggi.
I left my down jacket in the car. It’s warm today.
Il Parka (Parka)
I just learned that the parka (same word in English—yay!) was born with one purpose: keeping the Inuit people alive in the Arctic. In their language, the word parkaliterally means “animal skin,” because that’s exactly what it was made of. Today, this coat has swapped the Arctic for the city, becoming another winter essential: thigh-length cut, super cozy, often sporting a detachable fur-lined cappuccio (hood), and a drawstring at the waist.
Il Montone (Shearling coat)
The word montone literally means “ram,” and once you know that, this coat suddenly makes perfect sense. Sturdy leather on the outside for structure, wool on the inside for warmth (collar included),this is the jacket that kept aviators warm in the early 1900s, then became a fashion icon in the ’70s and ‘80s. Today, if you’re hunting through vintage shops in Italy, you’ll spot plenty of montoni hanging proudly, proving that some trends are, well, tougher than a ram’s head!
La Pelliccia (Fur coat)
Ah, now we’re talking high-end winter wear! A real pelliccia has long been the ultimate status symbol, especially among the iconic sciure milanesi (those wealthy Milanese ladies known for their flawless style and refinement). And if a full fur coat felt like too much commitment, there was always the collo di pelliccia (fur collar), offering a chic, halfway option. Luckily, things have changed, and today most people opt for an ecopelliccia (faux fur) instead.
Spring and autumn layers
Now, let’s look at the coats and jackets designed for the mezze stagioni—literally “the half-seasons,” those tricky in-between months of spring and autumn.
Il Soprabito (Overcoat)
Literally meaning “over-dress,” the soprabito is lighter than a winter cappotto but still warm enough to protect from a crisp breeze. It usually falls somewhere between the knee and ankle, giving an elegant look.
The word itself feels a little old-school; it’s the kind my nonnas would say while getting ready to head out. It’s perfectly correct, but don’t be surprised if younger people give you a puzzled look and just call it a cappotto instead.
Lo Spolverino (Dust coat)
The spolverino is a type of soprabito, but much lighter: a thin, unlined, straight-cut coat with a shirt-style collar. It’s a piece that goes with everything and magically makes any outfit look chic.
Its name comes from polvere (dust), because it was originally designed to protect a lady or gentleman’s fine clothes from the dust raised by horse-drawn carriages on unpaved roads. So very Bridgerton, right?
Il Trench (Trench coat)
We’ve kept the English name for this one, too. The trench is similar to a spolverino but with a little extra structure: it’s usually made from tessuto impermeabile (water-resistant fabric), with buttons and a belt to define the waist. Whether it falls mid-thigh or just below the knees, it’s a practical piece to stay dry and still look pretty stylish.
La Sahariana (Safari jacket)
As the name suggests, the sahariana evokes sun-soaked deserts and a sense of adventure. Born in the 19th-century colonial period, this lightweight canvas jacket was built for heat, practicality, and exploration. “It’s generally hip-length, with four front pockets and sometimes a belt at the waist. Whether in the Sahara or strolling through Rome, it’s practical and chic enough.
Weather jackets
From sudden rain showers to blustery coastal days, these are the jackets you’ll want to recognize when the weather refuses to cooperate.
L’Impermeabile (Raincoat)
Impermeabile literally means “the waterproof,” and that’s exactly what it does: it keeps the rain out. It’s that jacket we keep by the door ready for grey skies, with styles ranging from cheerful ponchos to more sophisticated mackintoshes. In everyday Italian, we often call any lightweight, packable raincoat a K-Way, even if it’s not from that specific brand.
Additionally, impermeabile is also an adjective, so when shopping, you can ask for things like uno zaino in tessuto impermeabile (a backpack made of waterproof material) or a sturdy pair of scarpe impermeabili (waterproof shoes).
Prendi l’impermeabile che oggi pioverà a dirotto!
Take the raincoat, today il will pour!
La Cerata (Waxed/sailing jacket)
If you’re out at sea, a regular raincoat won’t be enough and you’ll likely need a cerata. Named for its traditional “waxed” finish (cera means wax), this jacket was made to be completely water- and windproof, keeping sailors dry no matter the wild waves.
La Giacca a vento (Windbreaker)
Literally “the jacket for wind,” this is specifically designed to block the icy breeze. It can be imbottita (padded) for colder winter days or made from lightweight tessuto traspirante (breathable fabric) for outdoor activities like hiking or running. Many come with a cappuccio (hood), sometimes even a foldable one (cappuccio ripiegabile). And when you’re hitting the slopes, the same style is known as a giacca da sci (ski jacket).
Il cappuccio di questa giacca a vento è troppo piccolo.
The hood of this windbreaker is too small.
Casual favorites
These are the trusty jackets we always keep close at hand.
Il Giubbotto di jeans (Denim jacket)
The denim jacket is the classic of any closet. Depending on the type, the name might change a bit, for example:
- La giacca di jeans: More structured, with a blazer-like shape. However, some use giacca di jeans to mean an ordinary denim jacket instead of the more casual giubbotto di jeans.
- Il giubbino di jeans: A cute, shorter, or lighter version.
La Giacca di pelle (Leather jacket)
Few things say “cool” quite like a giacca di pelle. But if you really want to embrace that rebellious spirit, you have to go for il chiodo (literally “the nail”). This is the classic black studded version, and its name is a total throwback to the ‘70s and ‘80s punk rock scene, when fans used to customize their jackets with chiodi a piramide (literally, “pyramid-shaped nails”).
Il Bomber (Bomber jacket)
This short, collarless, zip-up jacket is another casual favorite. While it started as a military piece of clothing (from the English “bomber,” or bombardiere in Italian), it’s now a streetwear staple. You’ll find it in everything from sleek synthetic tech fabrics to luxurious pelle scamosciata (soft suede).
Fun fact: In Italy, a “Bomber” can also mean a soccer star who scores lots of goals or, in youth slang, a guy with a big personality who’s particularly successful with women.
Il Giubbino (Light jacket)
This is a generic, friendly term for a short, light, and casual jacket. Usually made of denim, nylon, or lightweight cotton, it’s the one we throw on when the temperature is pleasant but we still want that nice sporty finish.
La Giacchetta / Il Giacchetto (Little jacket)
Much like un giubbino, these terms refer to something lighter than a standard giacca or giubbiotto, perfect for when you need just a little bit of warmth. Just don’t expect everyone in Italy to use these words, as they are mostly regional.
That’s the full list. If you feel overwhelmed by all the different shapes, lengths, and styles, don’t worry. When you’re in a store and aren’t sure which word to use, these are your lifesavers:
- Giacca: for anything generic, structured, or on the lighter side
- Cappotto: for anything long, warm, and heavy enough for winter
- Giubbotto: for anything casual, sporty, or practical
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
