jeans
[C/U] Both
This garment is the global symbol of casual dress, originating from rugged workwear for miners and laborers. It carries a strong association with youth, rebellion, and utilitarian practicality, shifting from a blue-collar uniform to a universal fashion staple. Because they are constructed from two legs, they are treated as a plural noun. Even when referring to a single item, English speakers typically use the quantifier pair of to avoid treating the garment as a singular entity, which would sound unnatural in standard speech.
Uncountable when referring to the fabric or the general category of clothing. Countable only when used as a pair of jeans to denote a single garment.