Welcome to today’s English lesson! We’re going to learn how to talk about appearance in English. This is super useful when you want to describe people, whether it’s your friends, family, or even characters in a story. Knowing how to describe appearance will help you in everyday conversations and improve your spoken English.

Why Learn Vocabulary for Describing Appearance?

Why is it important to learn words for describing appearance? Well, imagine you meet someone new. Being able to describe what they look like is a great way to remember them or tell someone else about them. Maybe you want to describe a friend to another friend, or tell the police about someone you saw. Knowing these words makes your English more practical and helps you communicate better in real-life situations. Plus, talking about appearance is a common topic in everyday conversations!

Basic Vocabulary for Describing Appearance

Let’s learn some basic English vocabulary to describe how people look. We’ll break it down into categories to make it easier.

General Appearance – Talking about Body Build

These words help describe someone’s overall body size and shape:

• Tall: Meaning someone is above average height. Example: He is very tall, almost two meters!
• Short: Meaning someone is below average height. Example: She is quite short, shorter than me.
• Medium height: Meaning someone is neither tall nor short, average height. Example: My brother is medium height.
• Thin: Meaning someone is not fat, slender. Example: She is very thin and elegant.
• Slim: Similar to thin, but often implies attractively thin. Example: He is slim and fit.
• Overweight: Meaning someone is heavier than is considered healthy or normal. Example: The doctor said he is a little overweight.
• Heavy: Similar to overweight, but can be used more generally. Example: He is quite heavy for his age.
• Fat: A more direct word for overweight. Be careful, this word can sometimes be considered impolite. Example: The baby is so cute and a little fat.
• Muscular: Meaning someone has well-developed muscles. Example: He goes to the gym a lot and is very muscular.
• Weak: Not strong. Example: After being sick, he felt very weak.
• Strong: Physically powerful. Example: She is very strong and can lift heavy boxes.

Describing Hair

Hair is a very noticeable part of someone’s appearance. Here are some words to describe hair:

• Hair colour:
  • Blonde: Light yellow hair. Example: She has blonde hair and blue eyes.
  • Brown: A common hair colour, darker than blonde, lighter than black. Example: He has brown hair and a beard.
  • Black: Very dark hair. Example: She has long, black hair.
  • Red: Hair with a reddish colour. Example: People with red hair are sometimes called ‘ginger’.
  • Grey: Hair that is turning grey, often with age. Example: My grandfather has grey hair.
  • White: Hair that is completely white, often associated with old age. Example: Her grandmother has white hair.
  • Bald: Having no hair on the head. Example: He is getting older and becoming bald.
• Hair length:
  • Long hair: Hair that goes past the shoulders. Example: She has beautiful long hair.
  • Short hair: Hair that is above the shoulders. Example: He prefers short hair because it’s easier to manage.
  • Medium-length hair: Hair that is between short and long. Example: She has medium-length hair, just to her shoulders.
• Hair type/style:
  • Straight hair: Hair that is not curly or wavy. Example: She has naturally straight hair.
  • Wavy hair: Hair that has gentle curves. Example: He has slightly wavy hair.
  • Curly hair: Hair that forms curls or spirals. Example: She has beautiful, curly hair.
  • Spiky hair: Hair that stands up in sharp points. Example: Teenagers sometimes have spiky hair.
  • Ponytail: Hair tied back at the back of the head. Example: She often wears her hair in a ponytail.
  • Plaits/Braids: Hair woven together in strands. Example: Little girls often have plaits.

Describing Eyes

Eyes are another very important feature when describing appearance:

• Eye colour:
  • Blue eyes: Example: He has blue eyes, like the sky.
  • Green eyes: Example: She has striking green eyes.
  • Brown eyes: Example: Most people in my family have brown eyes.
  • Black eyes: Very dark brown eyes, appearing almost black. Example: He has dark hair and black eyes.
  • Hazel eyes: Eyes that are a mix of brown, green, and gold. Example: She has unusual hazel eyes.
• Eye size/shape:
  • Big eyes: Large eyes. Example: She has lovely big eyes.
  • Small eyes: Smaller than average eyes. Example: He has small eyes and a kind smile.
  • Round eyes: Eyes that are circular in shape. Example: Babies often have round eyes.
  • Almond-shaped eyes: Eyes shaped like almonds, pointed at the corners. Example: Many people in Asia have almond-shaped eyes.

Other Features – Face, Nose, Mouth

Let’s look at some words to describe other parts of the face:

• Face shape:
  • Round face: A face that is circular in shape. Example: She has a sweet, round face.
  • Oval face: A face that is longer than it is wide, like an egg. Example: He has an oval face and a strong chin.
  • Square face: A face with a strong jawline and angular features. Example: He has a square face and looks very masculine.
  • Long face: A face that is noticeably longer than it is wide. Example: She has a long face and high cheekbones.
• Nose:
  • Big nose: A nose that is larger than average. Example: He has a slightly big nose, but it suits his face.
  • Small nose: A nose that is smaller than average. Example: She has a cute, small nose.
  • Straight nose: A nose that is straight and doesn’t curve. Example: She has a classic, straight nose.
  • Pointed nose: A nose that comes to a sharp point. Example: He has a rather pointed nose.
  • Flat nose: A nose that is not very prominent. Example: Some people have naturally flat noses.
• Mouth and Lips:
  • Big mouth: A mouth that is wider than average. Example: She has a big mouth and a lovely smile.
  • Small mouth: A mouth that is narrower than average. Example: He has a small mouth.
  • Full lips: Lips that are thick and rounded. Example: She has full lips.
  • Thin lips: Lips that are not very thick. Example: He has thin lips.

Describing Clothes (Briefly)

What someone wears is also part of their appearance. We won’t go into detail here, but here are a few basic words:

• Well-dressed: Wearing attractive and stylish clothes. Example: She is always well-dressed.
• Casually dressed: Wearing informal, comfortable clothes. Example: He is casually dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
• Smartly dressed: Wearing formal or elegant clothes. Example: For the interview, you should be smartly dressed.
• Fashionable: Following current trends in clothing. Example: She is very fashionable and always wears the latest styles.
• Old-fashioned: Not modern or stylish. Example: His clothes are a bit old-fashioned.

How to Use Appearance Vocabulary in Sentences

Now let’s see how to use these words in sentences. We often use the verb “to be” and “to have” when describing appearance.

Using “to be”

We use “to be” (am, is, are) with adjectives to describe general qualities.

• Example: She is tall. (Describing height)
• Example: He is thin. (Describing body build)
• Example: Her hair is blonde. (Describing hair colour)
• Example: His eyes are blue. (Describing eye colour)
• Example: She is well-dressed. (Describing clothes)

Using “to have”

We use “to have” (have, has) to talk about features someone possesses.

• Example: He has brown hair. (Describing hair colour)
• Example: She has big eyes. (Describing eye size)
• Example: She has a round face. (Describing face shape)
• Example: He has a small nose. (Describing nose size)
• Example: She has full lips. (Describing lip shape)

Using Adjectives Directly

You can also use adjectives directly before nouns to describe appearance.

• Example: She is a tall woman.
• Example: He is a thin man.
• Example: She has blonde hair.
• Example: He has blue eyes.
• Example: She is wearing fashionable clothes.

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s your turn to practice using these words! Try these exercises:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct word from the box to complete the sentences.

(tall, short, thin, curly, blonde, blue, big, small)

1. My brother is very ______. He plays basketball.
2. My sister has ______ hair. It’s very pretty.
3. She has ______ eyes, like the ocean.
4. He is quite ______, he needs to eat more.
5. The little girl is ______. She is only 1 meter tall.
6. My dog has ______ ears. They are very cute.
7. She dyed her hair ______. It used to be brown.
8. He has a ______ nose, but it looks good on him.

Exercise 2: Describe the Person

Imagine you are describing your best friend to someone who has never met them. Use the vocabulary you learned today to describe their appearance. Think about:

• Height: Are they tall, short, or medium height?
• Body build: Are they thin, slim, overweight, muscular?
• Hair: What colour, length, and style is their hair?
• Eyes: What colour and shape are their eyes?
• Face: What shape is their face?
• Any other noticeable features?

Try to say at least 5 sentences describing your friend’s appearance. You can even write it down to practice!

Answers to Exercise 1:

1. tall
2. curly
3. blue
4. thin
5. short
6. big
7. blonde
8. small

Practice Speaking about Appearance with Lingofrnd

Learning vocabulary is great, but the best way to improve your English is to speak! Do you want to practice describing appearance and get feedback on your speaking? Lingofrnd.com is an AI spoken English teacher that can help you practice these words and many more! You can talk to Lingofrnd about anything, including describing people’s appearance, and it will help you improve your pronunciation and fluency.

Start practicing spoken English today! Visit Lingofrnd.com to learn more and Download App to practice anytime, anywhere.

Keep practicing and you’ll be able to describe anyone’s appearance in English with confidence! Good luck!