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Questions & Answers about De mouw zit los.
Why do we use zit here instead of is?
When talking about how clothing fits or feels on the body, Dutch uses zitten (to sit) rather than zijn (to be). So instead of saying a sleeve is loose, you say it sits loose. You will also see this in phrases like De broek zit te strak (The pants are too tight).
What is the opposite of los when talking about clothes?
The opposite is strak (tight). If the sleeve were uncomfortably tight, you would say De mouw zit strak.
Does los only apply to clothing?
No, los is a very common word meaning "loose," "untied," or "separate." You can use it for a dog that is off its leash (de hond loopt los), a loose tooth, or even buying individual items instead of a pre-packaged bundle.