๐บ English Shapes
In this section you'll learn common English shape words, how to describe the shape of everyday objects, and how to use shape words naturally in English. Each English word includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.
๐ข Common Shapes
โช Circle
a round shape with no corners
๐ซ๐ท French: Cercle
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kreis
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Cerchio
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Cรญrculo
a round shape with no corners
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Cรญrculo๐ซ๐ท French: Cercle
๐ฉ๐ช German: Kreis
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Cerchio
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Cรญrculo
โฌ Square
a shape with 4 equal sides
๐ซ๐ท French: Carrรฉ
๐ฉ๐ช German: Quadrat
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Quadrato
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Quadrado
a shape with 4 equal sides
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Cuadrado๐ซ๐ท French: Carrรฉ
๐ฉ๐ช German: Quadrat
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Quadrato
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Quadrado
๐บ Triangle
a shape with 3 sides
๐ซ๐ท French: Triangle
๐ฉ๐ช German: Dreieck
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Triangolo
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Triรขngulo
a shape with 3 sides
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Triรกngulo๐ซ๐ท French: Triangle
๐ฉ๐ช German: Dreieck
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Triangolo
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Triรขngulo
โญ Rectangle
a shape with 4 sides; longer than it is wide
๐ซ๐ท French: Rectangle
๐ฉ๐ช German: Rechteck
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Rettangolo
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Retรขngulo
a shape with 4 sides; longer than it is wide
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Rectรกngulo๐ซ๐ท French: Rectangle
๐ฉ๐ช German: Rechteck
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Rettangolo
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Retรขngulo
๐ฅ Oval
like a circle, but longer; egg-shaped
๐ซ๐ท French: Ovale
๐ฉ๐ช German: Oval
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ovale
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Oval
like a circle, but longer; egg-shaped
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: รvalo๐ซ๐ท French: Ovale
๐ฉ๐ช German: Oval
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ovale
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Oval
โญ Star
a shape with points, like a star in the sky
๐ซ๐ท French: รtoile
๐ฉ๐ช German: Stern
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Stella
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Estrela
a shape with points, like a star in the sky
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Estrella๐ซ๐ท French: รtoile
๐ฉ๐ช German: Stern
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Stella
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Estrela
๐ก Describing Shapes
โญ Round
shaped like a circle
๐ซ๐ท French: Rond / Ronde
๐ฉ๐ช German: Rund
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Rotondo / Rotonda
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Redondo / Redonda
shaped like a circle
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Redondo / Redonda๐ซ๐ท French: Rond / Ronde
๐ฉ๐ช German: Rund
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Rotondo / Rotonda
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Redondo / Redonda
โฌ Square
shaped like a square
๐ซ๐ท French: Carrรฉ / Carrรฉe
๐ฉ๐ช German: Quadratisch
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Quadrato / Quadrata
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Quadrado / Quadrada
shaped like a square
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Cuadrado / Cuadrada๐ซ๐ท French: Carrรฉ / Carrรฉe
๐ฉ๐ช German: Quadratisch
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Quadrato / Quadrata
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Quadrado / Quadrada
โญ Rectangular
shaped like a rectangle
๐ซ๐ท French: Rectangulaire
๐ฉ๐ช German: Rechteckig
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Rettangolare
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Retangular
shaped like a rectangle
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Rectangular๐ซ๐ท French: Rectangulaire
๐ฉ๐ช German: Rechteckig
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Rettangolare
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Retangular
๐ฅ Oval
shaped like an egg
๐ซ๐ท French: Ovale
๐ฉ๐ช German: Oval
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ovale
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Oval
shaped like an egg
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Ovalado / Ovalada๐ซ๐ท French: Ovale
๐ฉ๐ช German: Oval
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ovale
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Oval
๐บ Triangular
shaped like a triangle
๐ซ๐ท French: Triangulaire
๐ฉ๐ช German: Dreieckig
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Triangolare
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Triangular
shaped like a triangle
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Triangular๐ซ๐ท French: Triangulaire
๐ฉ๐ช German: Dreieckig
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Triangolare
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Triangular
ใฐ๏ธ Curved
not straight; bent in a smooth line
๐ซ๐ท French: Courbรฉ / Courbรฉe
๐ฉ๐ช German: Gebogen
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Curvo / Curva
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Curvo / Curva
not straight; bent in a smooth line
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Curvo / Curva๐ซ๐ท French: Courbรฉ / Courbรฉe
๐ฉ๐ช German: Gebogen
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Curvo / Curva
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Curvo / Curva
๐ง Using Shape Words Correctly
English often uses a noun to name a shape and an adjective to describe an object.
circle = the name of the shape; round = how something looks
It's a circle.
๐ซ๐ท C'est un cercle.
๐ฉ๐ช Es ist ein Kreis.
๐ฎ๐น ร un cerchio.
๐ต๐น ร um cรญrculo.The table is round.
๐ซ๐ท La table est ronde.
๐ฉ๐ช Der Tisch ist rund.
๐ฎ๐น Il tavolo รจ rotondo.
๐ต๐น A mesa รฉ redonda.
circle = the name of the shape; round = how something looks
It's a circle.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Es un cรญrculo.๐ซ๐ท C'est un cercle.
๐ฉ๐ช Es ist ein Kreis.
๐ฎ๐น ร un cerchio.
๐ต๐น ร um cรญrculo.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ La mesa es redonda.๐ซ๐ท La table est ronde.
๐ฉ๐ช Der Tisch ist rund.
๐ฎ๐น Il tavolo รจ rotondo.
๐ต๐น A mesa รฉ redonda.
English adjectives never change for gender or number.
the word โroundโ stays the same for one thing or many things
The round mirror
The round table
The round tables
the word โroundโ stays the same for one thing or many things
The round mirror
The round table
The round tables
In English, shape adjectives usually come before the noun.
say the shape word first, then the thing
A rectangular window
Two rectangular windows
say the shape word first, then the thing
A rectangular window
Two rectangular windows
๐ก Shapes Around You
๐ฝ๏ธ The plate is round.
the plate is shaped like a circle
๐ซ๐ท French: L'assiette est ronde.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Der Teller ist rund.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Il piatto รจ rotondo.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: O prato รฉ redondo.
the plate is shaped like a circle
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: El plato es redondo.๐ซ๐ท French: L'assiette est ronde.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Der Teller ist rund.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Il piatto รจ rotondo.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: O prato รฉ redondo.
๐ช The kitchen window is square.
the kitchen window has 4 equal sides
๐ซ๐ท French: La fenรชtre de la cuisine est carrรฉe.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Das Kรผchenfenster ist quadratisch.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: La finestra della cucina รจ quadrata.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: A janela da cozinha รฉ quadrada.
the kitchen window has 4 equal sides
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: La ventana de la cocina es cuadrada.๐ซ๐ท French: La fenรชtre de la cuisine est carrรฉe.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Das Kรผchenfenster ist quadratisch.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: La finestra della cucina รจ quadrata.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: A janela da cozinha รฉ quadrada.
๐บ The television screen is rectangular.
the TV screen is longer than it is tall
๐ซ๐ท French: L'รฉcran de tรฉlรฉvision est rectangulaire.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Der Fernsehbildschirm ist rechteckig.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Lo schermo della televisione รจ rettangolare.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: A tela da televisรฃo รฉ retangular.
the TV screen is longer than it is tall
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: La pantalla del televisor es rectangular.๐ซ๐ท French: L'รฉcran de tรฉlรฉvision est rectangulaire.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Der Fernsehbildschirm ist rechteckig.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Lo schermo della televisione รจ rettangolare.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: A tela da televisรฃo รฉ retangular.
๐ช We have an oval mirror in the hallway.
the hallway mirror is egg-shaped
๐ซ๐ท French: Nous avons un miroir ovale dans le couloir.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Wir haben einen ovalen Spiegel im Flur.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Abbiamo uno specchio ovale nel corridoio.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Temos um espelho oval no corredor.
the hallway mirror is egg-shaped
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Tenemos un espejo ovalado en el pasillo.๐ซ๐ท French: Nous avons un miroir ovale dans le couloir.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Wir haben einen ovalen Spiegel im Flur.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Abbiamo uno specchio ovale nel corridoio.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Temos um espelho oval no corredor.
โ Useful Shape Questions
๐ท What shape is it?
please tell me the shape
๐ซ๐ท French: Quelle est sa forme ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Welche Form hat es?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Che forma ha?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Que forma tem?
please tell me the shape
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: ยฟQuรฉ forma tiene?๐ซ๐ท French: Quelle est sa forme ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Welche Form hat es?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Che forma ha?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Que forma tem?
โญ Is it round or square?
is the shape a circle or a square?
๐ซ๐ท French: Est-il rond ou carrรฉ ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Ist es rund oder quadratisch?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: ร rotondo o quadrato?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: ร redondo ou quadrado?
is the shape a circle or a square?
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: ยฟEs redondo o cuadrado?๐ซ๐ท French: Est-il rond ou carrรฉ ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Ist es rund oder quadratisch?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: ร rotondo o quadrato?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: ร redondo ou quadrado?
๐ช What shape is the table?
please describe the tableโs shape
๐ซ๐ท French: Quelle est la forme de la table ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Welche Form hat der Tisch?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Che forma ha il tavolo?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Que forma tem a mesa?
please describe the tableโs shape
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: ยฟQuรฉ forma tiene la mesa?๐ซ๐ท French: Quelle est la forme de la table ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Welche Form hat der Tisch?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Che forma ha il tavolo?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Que forma tem a mesa?
โญ Does it have a rectangular shape?
is it shaped like a rectangle?
๐ซ๐ท French: A-t-il une forme rectangulaire ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Hat es eine rechteckige Form?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ha una forma rettangolare?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tem uma forma retangular?
is it shaped like a rectangle?
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: ยฟTiene una forma rectangular?๐ซ๐ท French: A-t-il une forme rectangulaire ?
๐ฉ๐ช German: Hat es eine rechteckige Form?
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Ha una forma rettangolare?
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Tem uma forma retangular?
๐ฌ Everyday Conversations
Shopping for Furniture
choosing a table shape
A: Do you prefer a round or square table?
B: I prefer a round table because it takes up less space.
๐ช๐ธ B: Prefiero una mesa redonda porque ocupa menos espacio.
๐ซ๐ท A: Prรฉfรฉrez-vous une table ronde ou carrรฉe ?
๐ซ๐ท B: Je prรฉfรจre une table ronde parce qu'elle prend moins de place.
๐ฉ๐ช A: Bevorzugen Sie einen runden oder quadratischen Tisch?
๐ฉ๐ช B: Ich bevorzuge einen runden Tisch, weil er weniger Platz braucht.
๐ฎ๐น A: Preferisce un tavolo rotondo o quadrato?
๐ฎ๐น B: Preferisco un tavolo rotondo perchรฉ occupa meno spazio.
๐ต๐น A: Vocรช prefere uma mesa redonda ou quadrada?
๐ต๐น B: Prefiro uma mesa redonda porque ocupa menos espaรงo.
choosing a table shape
A: Do you prefer a round or square table?
B: I prefer a round table because it takes up less space.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ A: ยฟPrefiere una mesa redonda o cuadrada?๐ช๐ธ B: Prefiero una mesa redonda porque ocupa menos espacio.
๐ซ๐ท A: Prรฉfรฉrez-vous une table ronde ou carrรฉe ?
๐ซ๐ท B: Je prรฉfรจre une table ronde parce qu'elle prend moins de place.
๐ฉ๐ช A: Bevorzugen Sie einen runden oder quadratischen Tisch?
๐ฉ๐ช B: Ich bevorzuge einen runden Tisch, weil er weniger Platz braucht.
๐ฎ๐น A: Preferisce un tavolo rotondo o quadrato?
๐ฎ๐น B: Preferisco un tavolo rotondo perchรฉ occupa meno spazio.
๐ต๐น A: Vocรช prefere uma mesa redonda ou quadrada?
๐ต๐น B: Prefiro uma mesa redonda porque ocupa menos espaรงo.
Describing an Object
asking about a boxโs shape
A: What shape is the box?
B: It's rectangular and quite large.
๐ช๐ธ B: Es rectangular y bastante grande.
๐ซ๐ท A: Quelle est la forme de la boรฎte ?
๐ซ๐ท B: Elle est rectangulaire et assez grande.
๐ฉ๐ช A: Welche Form hat die Kiste?
๐ฉ๐ช B: Sie ist rechteckig und ziemlich groร.
๐ฎ๐น A: Che forma ha la scatola?
๐ฎ๐น B: ร rettangolare e piuttosto grande.
๐ต๐น A: Que forma tem a caixa?
๐ต๐น B: ร retangular e bastante grande.
asking about a boxโs shape
A: What shape is the box?
B: It's rectangular and quite large.
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ A: ยฟQuรฉ forma tiene la caja?๐ช๐ธ B: Es rectangular y bastante grande.
๐ซ๐ท A: Quelle est la forme de la boรฎte ?
๐ซ๐ท B: Elle est rectangulaire et assez grande.
๐ฉ๐ช A: Welche Form hat die Kiste?
๐ฉ๐ช B: Sie ist rechteckig und ziemlich groร.
๐ฎ๐น A: Che forma ha la scatola?
๐ฎ๐น B: ร rettangolare e piuttosto grande.
๐ต๐น A: Que forma tem a caixa?
๐ต๐น B: ร retangular e bastante grande.
๐ Example Sentences
๐ We cut the round pizza into eight slices.
we cut the circle-shaped pizza into 8 pieces
๐ซ๐ท French: Nous avons coupรฉ la pizza ronde en huit parts.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Wir haben die runde Pizza in acht Stรผcke geschnitten.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Abbiamo tagliato la pizza rotonda in otto fette.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Cortamos a pizza redonda em oito fatias.
we cut the circle-shaped pizza into 8 pieces
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Cortamos la pizza redonda en ocho porciones.๐ซ๐ท French: Nous avons coupรฉ la pizza ronde en huit parts.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Wir haben die runde Pizza in acht Stรผcke geschnitten.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Abbiamo tagliato la pizza rotonda in otto fette.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: Cortamos a pizza redonda em oito fatias.
๐ผ๏ธ The rectangular picture is above the sofa.
the long picture hangs over the sofa
๐ซ๐ท French: Le tableau rectangulaire est au-dessus du canapรฉ.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Das rechteckige Bild hรคngt รผber dem Sofa.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Il quadro rettangolare รจ sopra il divano.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: O quadro retangular estรก acima do sofรก.
the long picture hangs over the sofa
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: El cuadro rectangular estรก encima del sofรก.๐ซ๐ท French: Le tableau rectangulaire est au-dessus du canapรฉ.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Das rechteckige Bild hรคngt รผber dem Sofa.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Il quadro rettangolare รจ sopra il divano.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: O quadro retangular estรก acima do sofรก.
โญ The children drew stars in their notebooks.
the children drew star shapes in their books
๐ซ๐ท French: Les enfants ont dessinรฉ des รฉtoiles dans leurs cahiers.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Die Kinder zeichneten Sterne in ihre Hefte.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: I bambini hanno disegnato delle stelle nei loro quaderni.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: As crianรงas desenharam estrelas em seus cadernos.
the children drew star shapes in their books
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: Los niรฑos dibujaron estrellas en sus cuadernos.๐ซ๐ท French: Les enfants ont dessinรฉ des รฉtoiles dans leurs cahiers.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Die Kinder zeichneten Sterne in ihre Hefte.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: I bambini hanno disegnato delle stelle nei loro quaderni.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: As crianรงas desenharam estrelas em seus cadernos.
๐บ The roof has a triangular shape.
the roof looks like a triangle
๐ซ๐ท French: Le toit a une forme triangulaire.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Das Dach hat eine dreieckige Form.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Il tetto ha una forma triangolare.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: O telhado tem uma forma triangular.
the roof looks like a triangle
Show translations
๐ช๐ธ Spanish: El techo tiene una forma triangular.๐ซ๐ท French: Le toit a une forme triangulaire.
๐ฉ๐ช German: Das Dach hat eine dreieckige Form.
๐ฎ๐น Italian: Il tetto ha una forma triangolare.
๐ต๐น Portuguese: O telhado tem uma forma triangular.
๐ Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Question 1 of 8
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