How to Describe a Person's Physical Appearance in English
Describing a person's physical appearance is a common and useful skill in English. Whether you are talking about a friend, a family member, or a character in a story, having the right vocabulary can make your descriptions vivid and clear. For ESL and TEFL learners, mastering this skill will enhance your conversational abilities and help you communicate more effectively.
In this lesson, we will explore various adjectives and phrases used to describe physical appearance. By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to describe a person's age, height, build, facial features, and more with confidence and accuracy.
Useful Vocabulary for Describing Physical Appearance
This section introduces essential vocabulary for describing physical appearance in English. Each term is accompanied by detailed explanations and multiple examples to illustrate their use in different contexts. Learners will find this vocabulary helpful for creating vivid and accurate descriptions.
List of Descriptive Terms and Examples
Age
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Young: A person who is in the early stages of life, usually under 30.
- She is a young woman with a bright future.
- He is a young man, full of energy and ambition.
- The young girl loves to play outside.
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Middle-aged: A person who is between young and old, typically between 40 and 60 years old.
- The middle-aged man has a lot of experience in his field.
- She is a middle-aged woman with two children.
- The middle-aged couple enjoys travelling.
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Old: A person who is advanced in age, usually over 60.
- The old man walks with a cane.
- She is an old lady who loves to tell stories.
- The old gentleman is very wise.
Height
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Short: A person who is below average in height.
- She is a short girl with a bubbly personality.
- He is quite short compared to his friends.
- The short man can easily fit into small spaces.
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Medium-height: A person who is of average height.
- She is of medium-height with a slender figure.
- He is medium-height and very athletic.
- The medium-height woman is wearing a blue dress.
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Tall: A person who is above average in height.
- The tall man can reach the top shelf easily.
- She is a tall woman with long legs.
- The tall boy plays basketball.
Build
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Well-built: A person with a strong, muscular body.
- The well-built man goes to the gym regularly.
- She is well-built and very athletic.
- The well-built athlete won several medals.
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Plump: A person who is pleasantly fat or rounded.
- The plump woman has a cheerful smile.
- He is plump and enjoys good food.
- The plump child loves to play outdoors.
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Thin: A person with little body fat.
- The thin man looks very elegant in his suit.
- She is thin and always active.
- The thin girl is a ballet dancer.
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Fat: A person with a lot of body fat.
- The fat cat loves to sleep all day.
- He became fat after years of eating junk food.
- The fat man decided to start a diet.
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Slim: A person with a slender, often attractive figure.
- She is slim and looks great in her dress.
- The slim boy is very agile.
- He prefers to stay slim by eating healthy.
Eyes
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Round eyes: Eyes that are circular in shape.
- She has big, round eyes that sparkle.
- The child’s round eyes looked amazed.
- He stared with his round eyes wide open.
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Oval eyes: Eyes that are oval in shape.
- Her oval eyes give her a sophisticated look.
- He has oval eyes that are quite expressive.
- The actress is known for her beautiful oval eyes.
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Blue eyes: Eyes that are blue in colour.
- He has striking blue eyes.
- Her blue eyes are like the sky.
- The baby was born with blue eyes.
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Brown eyes: Eyes that are brown in colour.
- His brown eyes are warm and inviting.
- She has deep brown eyes.
- The man with brown eyes smiled kindly.
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Small eyes: Eyes that are small in size.
- The old man has small eyes.
- Her small eyes twinkled with mischief.
- He peered through his small eyes, trying to see clearly.
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Square eyes: Eyes that are somewhat square in shape.
- He has square eyes that give him a unique look.
- Her square eyes made her stand out.
- The artist depicted characters with square eyes.
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Long eyes: Eyes that are longer in shape.
- She has long eyes that are very attractive.
- His long eyes give him a mysterious appearance.
- The model is known for her long eyes.
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Big round eyes: Eyes that are both big and round.
- The child’s big round eyes looked innocent.
- She has big round eyes that are very expressive.
- He stared with his big round eyes in amazement.
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Oval eyes: Eyes that are oval in shape.
- Her oval eyes give her a sophisticated look.
- He has oval eyes that are quite expressive.
- The actress is known for her beautiful oval eyes.
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Wears glasses: A person who uses glasses to see.
- She wears glasses to read.
- He looks smart in his glasses.
- The boy who wears glasses is very studious.
Nose
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Straight nose: A nose that is straight in shape.
- She has a straight nose that suits her face.
- His straight nose is very prominent.
- The model has a straight nose.
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Hooked nose: A nose that curves downward.
- The man with a hooked nose looked stern.
- She has a hooked nose that gives her character.
- His hooked nose is quite distinctive.
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Long nose: A nose that is long in shape.
- He has a long nose that runs in the family.
- Her long nose is very elegant.
- The character in the story had a long nose.
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Small nose: A nose that is small in size.
- She has a small nose that is quite cute.
- His small nose suits his face well.
- The baby has a small nose.
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Turned-up nose: A nose that turns upward at the tip.
- She has a turned-up nose that is very charming.
- His turned-up nose gives him a playful look.
- The girl with a turned-up nose smiled brightly.
Mouth and Lips
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Large mouth: A mouth that is large in size.
- He has a large mouth that is always smiling.
- Her large mouth is very expressive.
- The actor has a large mouth.
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Small mouth: A mouth that is small in size.
- She has a small mouth that is very delicate.
- His small mouth is very refined.
- The child has a small mouth.
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Full lips: Lips that are full and plump.
- She has full lips that are very attractive.
- His full lips give him a charming smile.
- The model is known for her full lips.
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Curved lips: Lips that curve upwards or downwards.
- Her curved lips give her a mischievous look.
- He has curved lips that always seem to be smiling.
- The character in the book had curved lips.
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Thin lips: Lips that are thin and narrow.
- She has thin lips that give her a serious look.
- His thin lips are very precise.
- The old man had thin lips.
Ears
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Large ears: Ears that are large in size.
- He has large ears that stick out.
- Her large ears give her a unique appearance.
- The boy with large ears is very cute.
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Small ears: Ears that are small in size.
- She has small ears that are very delicate.
- His small ears are barely noticeable.
- The child has small ears.
Summary and Takeaways
In this lesson, we explored the vocabulary needed to describe a person's physical appearance in English. Learners were introduced to key adjectives and phrases to help them create vivid and accurate descriptions of people's age, height, build, and facial features.
Key Phrases Learnt
- Young, middle-aged, old
- Short, medium-height, tall
- Well-built, plump, thin, fat, slim
- Round eyes, oval eyes, blue eyes, brown eyes, small eyes
- Straight nose, hooked nose, long nose, small nose
- Large mouth, small mouth, full lips, curved lips, thin lips
- Large ears, small ears
Exercises to Do by Yourself
- Write descriptions of three different people using the vocabulary learned in this lesson.
- Practice describing characters from a book or movie using these adjectives.
- Create flashcards with each term and its definition to test your memory.
Summary of the Lesson
This lesson provided a comprehensive guide to describing physical appearance in English. Learners now have a robust vocabulary to describe various physical traits, which will enhance their ability to communicate clearly and vividly. The examples and explanations ensure that learners can confidently use these expressions in the right contexts.
Encouragement to Engage
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