Types of Shoes and Boots

English Vocabulary

What is the difference between a shoe and a boot?

Shoes and boots both refer to a covering you wear on each of your feet.
The main difference between a shoe and a boot is that a shoe generally does not cover the ankles, while a boot covers the ankles and sometimes the lower part of the leg.

shoes: coverings for the feet. They are typically made of leather and have a sturdy thick sole (sole = base of the shoe). Most shoes have shoelaces to make the shoe fit tighter to the foot. A shoe doesn’t normally cover the ankle. When they cover the ankle or lower leg, they are called boots.

boots: a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot, ankle, and sometimes the lower part of the leg. There are many different types of boots, each with their own function such as hiking boots, cowboy boots, and work boots.

To help describe the different types of shoes and boots, we need to know some basic vocabulary associated with them. See our lesson about the different parts of a shoe and boot in English.

Let’s look at some types of shoes and boots.

Types of shoes and boots

There are many types of shoes and boots. Some of the main ones are:

ballet shoes: a lightweight shoe designed specifically for ballet dancing. It can be made from soft leather or canvas and has a flexible, thin sole. Ballet shoes don’t have a raised heel.

brogues: a strong leather shoe often with a perforated pattern in the leather. They are traditionally worn by men.

clogs: shoes that are completely made of wood (these are more traditional clogs) or that have a thick wooden sole and a leather top.

cowboy boots: a leather boot with a high heel and generally a pointed toe. The top part of the boot goes halfway between the knee and the ankle and often has decorative stitching. These boots do not have laces. Originally these boots were worn by cowboys or when riding horses.

flats: An informal way of saying women’s shoes that have a very low heel.

flip flops / thongs: A plastic or rubber sole with a strap that goes between your big toe and the one next to it. The name comes from the “flip flop” sound they make when you walk in them. In New Zealand they are called jandals.

football boots / soccer boots: a leather shoe with studs on the bottom of it and used for playing football/soccer. Studs are pieces of metal or hard plastic on the bottom of a shoe that stop it from slipping while playing a sport. In some countries, studs are called sprigs.

high heels: women’s shoes that have the heel (the back part of the shoe) raised high off the ground that makes the wearer appear taller. They are mostly used with elegant/formal clothes. Sometimes they are called high-heeled shoes or just heels.

hiking boots: a sturdy boot that covers the foot and ankle. They are designed for long walks in the countryside and are suitable for walking over rough terrain. A hiking boot has a thick, rugged sole to stop the wearer from slipping on certain surfaces.

knee-high boots: These are boots where the back part (that normally covers the ankle) rises to cover the leg up to the knee, either just over the knee or just under it. This part of the boot that covers the leg above the ankle is called the shaft.

loafers: a leather shoe shaped like a moccasin, with a slight heel. You can slide your foot into it and they don’t need fastening as they don’t have laces. Sometimes a loafer is called a slip-on shoe.

moccasins: a shoe (without a heel) that is made from soft leather and has large stitches at the top around the front. Normally the sole and the sides of the shoe are made from the same piece of leather, though nowadays they have an additional more sturdy sole. Sometimes moccasins have laces or tassels.

platform shoes / boots: a type of shoe (or boot) with a high, thick sole. They raise the entire foot off the ground.

rubber boots / Wellington Boots: these are waterproof boots made of rubber. They are commonly used for agricultural activities (such as gardening or farming) or on rainy days when there is a lot of water or mud. These are also known as Wellingtons or Wellies for short. In some countries they are called gumboots.

sandals: a light shoe mainly worn in warm weather. It consists of a bottom part (sole) that is held to the foot by straps. Sandals are open so you can see most of the foot and its toes.

slippers: soft, comfortable shoes that keep your feet warm inside the house. You don’t wear slippers outside.

sneakers / trainers: a type of light, comfortable shoe that is typically worn when you play sport, however they can also be used as casual wear. The sole is usually made of rubber. Sneakers (American English) – trainers (British English). Some other names for this type of shoe include runners, running shoes, and tennis shoes.

snowshoes: a pair of flat frames that you attach to the bottom of your shoes so that you can walk on deep snow without sinking into it. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of a person over a larger area so that the person’s foot does not sink completely into the snow.

stilettos: a type of high heel shoe where the heel part is very narrow and at the ground part has a diameter of no more than 1cm (less than half an inch).

wedges / wedge shoes: a shoe with a high heel forming a solid block with the sole (bottom part of the shoe).

Of course, you normally wear socks with your shoes.

socks: an item of clothing made from soft material (wool, cotton, etc.) that covers your foot and sometimes the lower part of the leg. Socks make your shoes more comfortable to wear. Socks come in pairs and you often lose one of them when you do the washing.

A pair of...

Before all of these words, you can say “a pair of” because there are two of them.
e.g. a pair of shoes, a pair of boots, a pair of slippers, a pair of socks etc.

What type of shoes are you wearing today?

Summary Chart

Next Activity

See our lesson about parts of a shoe and boot in English.

See our lesson about clothes in English.

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