suede
suede
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown
The IPA phonetic spelling for suede is /sweɪd/.
Syllable 1: /sweɪd/
Onset: /sw/ (a blend of the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ and the voiced labial-velar approximant /w/)
Nucleus: /eɪ/ (the diphthong as in 'say' or 'day')
Coda: /d/ (the voiced alveolar stop)
Word Form Variations
The common word form variations for suede are:
Singular Noun: suede (referring to the material)
Plural Noun: suedes (referring to different types or pieces of the material, though this is less common as the material is often treated as a mass noun)
Adjective: suede or sueded (describing something made of or resembling the material)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A type of soft, velvety leather that is traditionally made from the underside of an animal hide, usually lamb or goat, and is characterized by a napped finish.
Synonyms: napped leather, chamois (in a broad sense), kidskin (if derived from goat)
Antonyms: full-grain leather, patent leather, smooth leather
Adjective
Definition: Of or relating to the material known as suede; having a soft, brushed surface or nap that resembles suede.
Synonyms: brushed, fuzzy, velvety, napped
Antonyms: smooth, glossy, slick, polished
Verb
Definition (less common, often used as a participle or gerund): To process or finish a material to give it a soft, napped surface or feel similar to that of suede.
Synonyms: nap, brush, finish
Antonyms: smooth, buff, glaze
Examples of Use
📰 News and Online Publications (Noun)
"Suede is one of those materials that just feels luxurious, but it's notoriously difficult to keep clean, especially when it comes to boots and accessories during the rainy season." (Harpers Bazaar, October 2024)
A fashion critic noted that the designer's new line "featured bags made from vegetable-tanned leather, juxtaposed with jackets of a deep, rich suede."
📚 Books and Literature (Adjective)
In a memoir about 1970s fashion, the author described the main character's ensemble: "He walked in wearing bell-bottom jeans and a stylish pair of suede loafers, a classic look of the era."
"She ran a hand over the soft, slightly worn cover of the antique jewellery box, which was lined with deep crimson suede." (Contemporary Novel, 2024)
💻 Entertainment and Platforms (Noun and Adjective)
A popular online article offered tips for extending the life of footwear: "If you want to protect your favorite suede shoes from water stains, you need to apply a proper protectant spray before the first wear." (Online Style Guide, September 2024)
Reviewing a film's set design, a blogger wrote, "The lavish apartment scene featured an enormous, tufted sofa upholstered entirely in pale grey suede."
🗣️ General Public Discourse
Noun: During a discussion about home decor, someone might say, "I love the feel of suede, but with two dogs, I'm concerned it wouldn't hold up on a couch."
Adjective: In a conversation about personal style, a friend might comment, "Those are great! I really like the colour of that suede jacket."
Adjective (Metaphorical): A music critic, describing a singer's voice, might use the term to evoke texture: "Her low notes had a smooth, almost suede quality to them, adding a sensual layer to the track."
10 Famous Quotes Using Suede
"I think I have something tonight that's not quite correct for evening wear: Blue suede shoes." (Elvis Presley, referencing the song "Blue Suede Shoes")
"I always feel like we can stretch Suede and get arty and do unusual things, but it always snaps back to being a rock band.” (Brett Anderson, on his band Suede)
"When I talk about rock n' roll, to me, that goes back to the beginning of the 1950s: Blue suede shoes and sideburns, man." (Bobby Keys)
"So what I believe in is this timelessness of some of these things: The timelessness of an attitude; the timelessness of an old tweed jacket and suede elbow patches.” (Ralph Lauren)
"On the other side of the street, Julia was walking alone, wearing her orange suede knapsack and an orange suede headband that matched." (Rebecca Stead, When You Reach Me)
"If you take suede leather and put it on a piece of steel, and put moisture on it, it actually sticks." (Nik Wallenda)
"My primary school teacher once poured a bottle of curdled school milk forcefully down my throat; then I threw it up all over her suede shoes." (Paul O'Grady)
"I was just a huge fan of Blur, Suede, Elastica and Pulp, of course, even Menswear and Ocean Colour Scene." (Devendra Banhart)
"She had taken one look at him—the long hair, the blue eyes, the scuffed suede boots—and decided he was unsuitable." (Original Quote)
"The suede texture of the album cover felt exactly like the music inside: warm, rich, and slightly fragile." (Original Quote)
Etymology
The word suede is actually an interesting case of borrowing and shortening from another language, specifically French, that eventually referred to the material we know today.
Here is the breakdown of its origins:
The Original Word: The English word suede comes directly from the French phrase "gants de Suède".
What it Means: This French phrase translates literally to "gloves of Sweden."
The Connection to the Material: The soft, brushed leather we call "suede" was originally imported into France, and later to England, from Sweden or other northern European regions. Because the best and softest examples of this type of leather (often made from kidskin or lambskin) were associated with Swedish gloves, the material itself became known by this name.
The Shortening: English speakers essentially dropped the "gants de" (gloves of) and started using just "Suède" (Sweden) to refer to the material. The spelling was then anglicized to suede.
🗓️ First Known Use and Meaning
First Use in English: The word suede (in its modern, simplified English form) is first recorded in the English language around the 1820s.
First Meaning: The first meaning was exactly what it is today: a type of soft, napped leather made from the inner split of a hide, often used for gloves, shoes, and clothing. It was specifically used to distinguish this velvety finish from ordinary, smooth leather.
In short, when you say "suede," you are essentially using a shortened, anglicized version of the old French term for "Swedish gloves."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Suede
Blue Suede Shoes: A very famous phrase, derived from the title of the classic 1956 rock and roll song by Carl Perkins (and famously covered by Elvis Presley), which symbolizes coolness, style, and status in popular culture.
To handle someone with suede gloves: An original phrase suggesting handling a person with extreme gentleness, care, and delicacy, similar to the idiom "to handle with kid gloves."
Soft as suede: A common simile used to describe something with an incredibly smooth and soft texture, often applied to skin, fabric, or even a soft voice.
Suede effect: A descriptive phrase, particularly in fashion and design, used for a material that is not real leather but has been manufactured to mimic the soft, napped finish of suede.
Suede jacket mentality: An original phrase referring to a person who is fashionable or stylish on the surface but may be sensitive, easily stained, or high-maintenance (playing on the material's vulnerability).
To be stained like suede: A descriptive phrase used to indicate something has been permanently tarnished or marked by a mistake or incident, referring to how easily suede fabric absorbs and holds stains.
To buff the suede: An original phrase meaning to make a surface look presentable again through vigorous, focused effort (like buffing the nap back onto suede shoes).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of suede from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
