Spanish Phrases for Describing People
Master 22 essential Spanish phrases for describing-people with translations, context, and usage examples
Understanding Spanish describing-people Phrases
Learn Spanish vocabulary and phrases for describing physical appearance, personality, character traits, and personal qualities. Master adjectives and expressions for talking about people.
When to Use These Phrases
Use "ser" for permanent characteristics: "Es alto" (He's tall). Use "estar" for temporary states: "Está cansado" (He's tired). Physical descriptions come after verbs. Personality adjectives vary in gender: "simpático/simpática."
Learning Tips for describing-people Phrases
- Physical: alto/a (tall), bajo/a (short), delgado/a (thin), gordito/a (chubby), joven (young), mayor (older)
- Hair: pelo rubio/negro/castaño/rojo (blonde/black/brown/red hair), corto/largo (short/long)
- Personality: simpático/a (nice), amable (kind), inteligente (intelligent), divertido/a (fun)
- Agreement: adjectives match gender/number of person described
Essential describing-people Phrases
Start with these commonly used expressions for describing-people situations
Complete List of describing-people Phrases
Family & Relationships
La familia
I am an only child
Soy hijo único
I am diabetic
Soy diabético / Soy diabética
I am married
Estoy casado / Estoy casada
I am single
Estoy soltero/a
I am sweating
Estoy sudando
I am tired
Estoy cansado/a
I am X years old
Tengo X años
I like to read
Me gusta leer
I'm nervous
Estoy nervioso/a
My best friend
mi mejor amigo / mi mejor amiga
my brother
mi hermano
my daughter
mi hija
My eyes are tired
Tengo los ojos cansados.
my grandparents
mis abuelos
my husband
mi esposo
My mom
mi mamá
my sister
mi hermana
my son
mi hijo
on my own
por mi cuenta
You are beautiful
Eres hermosa
You are very handsome
Eres muy guapo
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish describing-people Phrases
How do you describe physical appearance in Spanish?
Height: alto/a (tall), bajo/a (short), de estatura mediana (medium height). Build: delgado/a (thin), flaco/a (skinny), gordito/a (chubby). Hair: pelo rubio/negro/castaño (blonde/black/brown), corto/largo (short/long), lacio/rizado (straight/curly). Eyes: ojos azules/verdes/marrones (blue/green/brown eyes).
What are Spanish personality adjectives?
Positive: simpático/a (nice), amable (kind), divertido/a (fun), inteligente (intelligent), trabajador/a (hardworking), honesto/a (honest), generoso/a (generous). Negative: antipático/a (unpleasant), perezoso/a (lazy), egoísta (selfish), tímido/a (shy), impaciente (impatient).
How do you ask about someone's appearance or personality in Spanish?
Appearance: "¿Cómo es físicamente?" (What does he/she look like?), "¿Cómo se ve?" (How does he/she look?). Personality: "¿Cómo es?" (What is he/she like?), "¿Qué tal es?" (What's he/she like?). General: "Descríbeme a..." (Describe... to me).
Have more questions about learning Spanish phrases? Browse our complete phrase guide or explore our learning resources.
Browse All Spanish Phrase Categories
Ready to Master More Spanish Phrases?
Explore our complete collection of Spanish phrases organized by category, situation, and difficulty level. Perfect for beginners to advanced learners.
View All Spanish Phrases →