๐Ÿง Physical Appearance

In this lesson you'll learn useful English vocabulary for describing physical appearance, including height, build, hair, eyes, and other common features. Each English word includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

๐ŸŸข Basic Appearance Vocabulary

๐Ÿ“ Tall
high in height
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Alto / Alta
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Grand / Grande
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: GroรŸ
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Alto / Alta
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Alto / Alta
๐Ÿ“‰ Short
not tall
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Bajo / Baja
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Petit / Petite
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Klein
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Basso / Bassa
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Baixo / Baixa
๐Ÿ’ช Strong
has a lot of physical power
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Fuerte
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Fort / Forte
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Stark
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Forte
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Forte
๐Ÿƒ Thin / Slim
not heavy; a light body
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Delgado / Delgada
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Mince
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Schlank
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Magro / Magra
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Magro / Magra
๐Ÿ‹๏ธ Muscular
has visible muscles
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Musculoso / Musculosa
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Musclรฉ / Musclรฉe
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Muskulรถs
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Muscoloso / Muscolosa
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Musculoso / Musculosa
๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ Athletic
looks fit from sports or exercise
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Atlรฉtico / Atlรฉtica
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Athlรฉtique
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Sportlich
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Atletico / Atletica
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Atlรฉtico / Atlรฉtica
๐Ÿ˜Š Good-looking / Attractive
nice to look at
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Atractivo / Atractiva
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Attirant / Attirante
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Attraktiv
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Attraente
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Atraente
โœจ Beautiful
very pretty
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Hermoso / Hermosa
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Beau / Belle
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Schรถn
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Bello / Bella
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Bonito / Bonita

๐ŸŸก Describing Hair

๐ŸŸค Brown hair
hair the color of chocolate or wood
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello castaรฑo
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux bruns
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Braune Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli castani
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo castanho
โšซ Black hair
very dark hair
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello negro
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux noirs
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Schwarze Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli neri
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo preto
๐ŸŸก Blonde hair
light yellow or golden hair
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello rubio
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux blonds
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Blonde Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli biondi
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo loiro
๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿฆฐ Red hair
orange-red hair
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello pelirrojo
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux roux
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Rote Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli rossi
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo ruivo
โœจ Curly hair
hair with curls or waves
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello rizado
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux bouclรฉs
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Lockige Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli ricci
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo cacheado
โž– Straight hair
hair with no curls
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello liso
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux lisses
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Glatte Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli lisci
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo liso
๐Ÿ’‡ Long hair
hair that goes down the back or shoulders
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello largo
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux longs
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Lange Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli lunghi
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo comprido
โœ‚๏ธ Short hair
hair cut close to the head
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Cabello corto
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Cheveux courts
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Kurze Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Capelli corti
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Cabelo curto

๐Ÿ‘€ Eyes & Facial Features

๐Ÿ”ต Blue eyes
eyes the color of the sky
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Ojos azules
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Yeux bleus
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Blaue Augen
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Occhi azzurri
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Olhos azuis
๐ŸŸค Brown eyes
eyes the color of chocolate
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Ojos marrones
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Yeux marron
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Braune Augen
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Occhi marroni
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Olhos castanhos
๐ŸŸข Green eyes
eyes the color of grass
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Ojos verdes
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Yeux verts
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Grรผne Augen
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Occhi verdi
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Olhos verdes
๐Ÿ‘๏ธ Dark eyes
brown or black eyes
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Ojos oscuros
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Yeux foncรฉs
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Dunkle Augen
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Occhi scuri
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Olhos escuros
๐Ÿง” Beard
hair on a manโ€™s chin and cheeks
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Barba
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Barbe
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Bart
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Barba
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Barba
๐Ÿฅธ Mustache
hair on the upper lip
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Bigote
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Moustache
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Schnurrbart
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Baffi
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Bigode
๐Ÿ˜Š Smile
when the mouth turns up to show happiness
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Sonrisa
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Sourire
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Lรคcheln
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Sorriso
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Sorriso
๐Ÿ‘“ Glasses
lenses you wear to see better
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Gafas / Lentes
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Lunettes
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Brille
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Occhiali
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: ร“culos

๐Ÿ‘• Describing Appearance in English

English appearance adjectives do not change depending on whether you're describing a man or a woman.

He is tall.
She is tall.

He is athletic.
She is athletic.

Only the pronoun changes. The adjective stays the same.
Many common appearance words also stay exactly the same for everyone.

Strong
Beautiful
๐Ÿ’ก In English, hair and eye colors are usually placed before the noun.

Brown hair
Hair + color.

Blue eyes
Eyes + color.

๐Ÿง  Ways to Describe Appearance

๐Ÿ‘ค English commonly uses the verb to be to describe a person's general appearance.
say โ€œisโ€ for height or build
He is tall.
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ร‰l es alto.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท Il est grand.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Er ist groรŸ.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Lui รจ alto.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Ele รฉ alto.
๐Ÿ‘€ English uses the verb to have for physical features such as hair, eyes, or a beard.
say โ€œhasโ€ for hair and eyes
She has green eyes.
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Ella tiene ojos verdes.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท Elle a les yeux verts.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Sie hat grรผne Augen.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Lei ha gli occhi verdi.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Ela tem olhos verdes.
๐Ÿง” English also uses have to describe facial hair.
say โ€œhas a beardโ€
He has a beard.
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ร‰l lleva barba.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท Il a une barbe.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Er hat einen Bart.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Ha la barba.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Ele tem barba.
๐Ÿ‘“ To describe glasses, English normally uses the verb wear.
say โ€œwears glassesโ€
My teacher wears glasses.
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Mi profesora lleva gafas.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท Mon professeur porte des lunettes.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Meine Lehrerin trรคgt eine Brille.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น La mia insegnante porta gli occhiali.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Minha professora usa รณculos.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Talking About Appearance

๐Ÿ“ My brother is tall and quite athletic.
my brother is high and fit
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Mi hermano es alto y bastante atlรฉtico.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Mon frรจre est grand et assez sportif.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Mein Bruder ist groรŸ und ziemlich sportlich.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Mio fratello รจ alto e piuttosto atletico.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Meu irmรฃo รฉ alto e bastante atlรฉtico.
๐Ÿ‘€ He has green eyes and dark hair.
his eyes are green; his hair is dark
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Tiene los ojos verdes y el cabello oscuro.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Il a les yeux verts et les cheveux foncรฉs.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Er hat grรผne Augen und dunkle Haare
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Ha gli occhi verdi e i capelli scuri.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Ele tem olhos verdes e cabelo escuro.
โœจ Lucy has long, curly hair.
Lucyโ€™s hair is long and curly
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Lucรญa tiene el cabello largo y rizado.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Lucie a les cheveux longs et bouclรฉs.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Lucy hat lange, lockige Haare.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Lucia ha i capelli lunghi e ricci.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Lรบcia tem cabelo comprido e cacheado.
๐Ÿ‘“ The man with the glasses is my teacher.
the man who wears glasses teaches me
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: El hombre de las gafas es mi profesor.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: L'homme avec les lunettes est mon professeur.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Der Mann mit der Brille ist mein Lehrer.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: L'uomo con gli occhiali รจ il mio insegnante.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: O homem de รณculos รฉ meu professor.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Everyday Conversations

Looking for someone
asking what a person looks like
A: What does your friend look like?
B: He's tall, has short hair, and wears glasses.
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ A: ยฟCรณmo es tu amigo?
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ B: Es alto, tiene el cabello corto y lleva gafas.

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท A: ร€ quoi ressemble ton ami ?
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท B: Il est grand, il a les cheveux courts et porte des lunettes.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช A: Wie sieht dein Freund aus?
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช B: Er ist groรŸ, hat kurze Haare und trรคgt eine Brille.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น A: Com'รจ il tuo amico?
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น B: รˆ alto, ha i capelli corti e porta gli occhiali.

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น A: Como รฉ o seu amigo?
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น B: Ele รฉ alto, tem cabelo curto e usa รณculos.
Describing a family member
comparing how two people look
A: Do you look like your sister?
B: A little. We both have brown eyes, but she has curly hair.
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ A: ยฟTe pareces a tu hermana?
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ B: Un poco. Las dos tenemos los ojos marrones, pero ella tiene el cabello rizado.

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท A: Ressembles-tu ร  ta sล“ur ?
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท B: Un peu. Nous avons toutes les deux les yeux marron, mais elle a les cheveux bouclรฉs.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช A: Siehst du deiner Schwester รคhnlich?
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช B: Ein bisschen. Wir haben beide braune Augen, aber sie hat lockige Haare.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น A: Assomigli a tua sorella?
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น B: Un po'. Abbiamo entrambe gli occhi marroni, ma lei ha i capelli ricci.

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น A: Vocรช se parece com sua irmรฃ?
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น B: Um pouco. Nรณs duas temos olhos castanhos, mas ela tem cabelo cacheado.

๐Ÿ“ Example Sentences

๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿฆฐ The new neighbor has red hair and a short beard.
the neighborโ€™s hair is red and his beard is short
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: El nuevo vecino tiene el cabello pelirrojo y una barba corta.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Le nouveau voisin a les cheveux roux et une barbe courte.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Der neue Nachbar hat rote Haare und einen kurzen Bart.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Il nuovo vicino ha i capelli rossi e una barba corta.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: O novo vizinho tem cabelo ruivo e uma barba curta.
๐Ÿ‘€ I recognized Marta by her green eyes and curly hair.
I knew it was Marta because of her eyes and hair
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Reconocรญ a Marta por sus ojos verdes y su cabello rizado.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: J'ai reconnu Marta ร  ses yeux verts et ses cheveux bouclรฉs.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Ich erkannte Marta an ihren grรผnen Augen und lockigen Haaren.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Ho riconosciuto Marta dai suoi occhi verdi e dai suoi capelli ricci.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Reconheci Marta pelos olhos verdes e cabelo cacheado.
๐Ÿ‘“ My grandfather wears glasses to read the newspaper in the morning.
grandpa puts on glasses when he reads
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: Mi abuelo lleva gafas para leer el periรณdico por la maรฑana.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: Mon grand-pรจre porte des lunettes pour lire le journal le matin.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Mein GroรŸvater trรคgt eine Brille, um morgens Zeitung zu lesen.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: Mio nonno porta gli occhiali per leggere il giornale al mattino.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: Meu avรด usa รณculos para ler o jornal pela manhรฃ.
๐Ÿ˜Š The woman standing by the door has a beautiful smile.
the woman near the door smiles in a pretty way
Show translationsHide translations๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spanish: La mujer que estรก junto a la puerta tiene una sonrisa muy bonita.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท French: La femme prรจs de la porte a un trรจs beau sourire.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช German: Die Frau neben der Tรผr hat ein sehr schรถnes Lรคcheln.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italian: La donna accanto alla porta ha un bellissimo sorriso.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portuguese: A mulher ao lado da porta tem um sorriso muito bonito.
Shorter stems. No โ€œhigh in heightโ€ or โ€œlenses.โ€

๐Ÿ† Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Question 1 of 8
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