25 Spanish Describing People (Physical Appearance) Vocabulary Every Beginner Must Know

Spanish Physical Appearance Vocabulary for Beginners

Learning how to describe people is one of the most important skills when studying Spanish. Whether you want to introduce a friend, talk about a celebrity, or describe someone you just met, the right vocabulary makes all the difference. That’s why today we’ll focus on 25 Spanish describing people (physical appearance) vocabulary words every beginner must know.

This guide is designed for learners who want clear examples, easy explanations, and real-life usage tips. By the end, you will confidently use these words in everyday conversations.

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Why Learn Spanish Vocabulary for Physical Appearance?

When learning Spanish, beginners often focus on greetings, numbers, or food. Yet, being able to describe someone is equally essential. Imagine telling a friend to meet “the tall man with glasses” or explaining “the woman with curly hair.” Without descriptive words, such conversations become frustrating.

Physical appearance vocabulary also helps in:

• Describing yourself in Spanish.
• Talking about your family and friends.
• Understanding descriptions in stories or conversations.
• Building sentences that feel natural and expressive.

The more you practice these words, the more confident you’ll feel when speaking Spanish.

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25 Spanish Describing People Vocabulary Words

Below you’ll find 25 essential Spanish words and phrases grouped into easy-to-follow categories. Each word includes its English meaning and a simple usage example.

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1. General Descriptions

These words help you describe someone in a broad sense.

1. Alto / Alta – Tall
   Mi hermano es alto. (My brother is tall.)
2. Bajo / Baja – Short
   Ella es baja y simpática. (She is short and friendly.)
3. Guapo / Guapa – Handsome / Beautiful
   El actor es muy guapo. (The actor is very handsome.)
4. Feo / Fea – Ugly
   El dibujo es un poco feo. (The drawing is a little ugly.)
5. Joven – Young
   La maestra es joven. (The teacher is young.)

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2. Body Shape and Build

Describing body type is common in conversations, especially when giving directions or identifying people.

6. Delgado / Delgada – Slim
   Mi amiga es delgada y elegante. (My friend is slim and elegant.)
7. Gordo / Gorda – Overweight
   El gato es gordo. (The cat is overweight.)
8. Atlético / Atlética – Athletic
   Mi primo es atlético y corre todos los días. (My cousin is athletic and runs every day.)
9. Fuerte – Strong
   El hombre es fuerte. (The man is strong.)
10. Débil – Weak
    El niño está débil después de la enfermedad. (The boy is weak after the illness.)

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3. Hair Descriptions

Hair is one of the most noticeable features when describing someone in Spanish.

11. Pelo corto – Short hair
    Ella tiene el pelo corto. (She has short hair.)
12. Pelo largo – Long hair
    Mi hermana tiene el pelo largo. (My sister has long hair.)
13. Pelo liso – Straight hair
    Tengo el pelo liso. (I have straight hair.)
14. Pelo rizado – Curly hair
    El niño tiene el pelo rizado. (The boy has curly hair.)
15. Pelo rubio – Blonde hair
    Ella es rubia y alta. (She is blonde and tall.)

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4. Facial Features

These words help you describe someone’s face in Spanish.

16. Ojos grandes – Big eyes
    La niña tiene ojos grandes. (The girl has big eyes.)
17. Ojos pequeños – Small eyes
    Él tiene ojos pequeños y oscuros. (He has small, dark eyes.)
18. Ojos azules – Blue eyes
    Mis primos tienen ojos azules. (My cousins have blue eyes.)
19. Ojos marrones – Brown eyes
    Ella tiene ojos marrones muy bonitos. (She has very pretty brown eyes.)
20. Nariz grande – Big nose
    El hombre tiene una nariz grande. (The man has a big nose.)

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5. Additional Features and Style

These final words describe details like glasses, beard, or style.

21. Lentes / Gafas – Glasses
    Mi abuela usa lentes. (My grandmother wears glasses.)
22. Barba – Beard
    El profesor tiene barba. (The teacher has a beard.)
23. Bigote – Mustache
    El señor tiene un bigote grande. (The man has a big mustache.)
24. Moreno / Morena – Dark-haired or dark-skinned
    Mi amiga es morena. (My friend is dark-haired.)
25. Canoso / Canosa – Gray-haired
    Mi abuelo es canoso. (My grandfather has gray hair.)

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Vocabulary Table: Spanish Describing People (Physical Appearance)

Spanish Word / Phrase	English Meaning	Example Sentence (Spanish)	Translation (English)
Alto / Alta	Tall	Mi hermano es alto.	My brother is tall.
Bajo / Baja	Short	Ella es baja y simpática.	She is short and friendly.
Guapo / Guapa	Handsome / Beautiful	El actor es muy guapo.	The actor is very handsome.
Feo / Fea	Ugly	El dibujo es un poco feo.	The drawing is a little ugly.
Joven	Young	La maestra es joven.	The teacher is young.
Delgado / Delgada	Slim	Mi amiga es delgada y elegante.	My friend is slim and elegant.
Gordo / Gorda	Overweight	El gato es gordo.	The cat is overweight.
Atlético / Atlética	Athletic	Mi primo es atlético y corre todos los días.	My cousin is athletic and runs every day.
Fuerte	Strong	El hombre es fuerte.	The man is strong.
Débil	Weak	El niño está débil después de la enfermedad.	The boy is weak after the illness.
Pelo corto	Short hair	Ella tiene el pelo corto.	She has short hair.
Pelo largo	Long hair	Mi hermana tiene el pelo largo.	My sister has long hair.
Pelo liso	Straight hair	Tengo el pelo liso.	I have straight hair.
Pelo rizado	Curly hair	El niño tiene el pelo rizado.	The boy has curly hair.
Pelo rubio	Blonde hair	Ella es rubia y alta.	She is blonde and tall.
Ojos grandes	Big eyes	La niña tiene ojos grandes.	The girl has big eyes.
Ojos pequeños	Small eyes	Él tiene ojos pequeños y oscuros.	He has small, dark eyes.
Ojos azules	Blue eyes	Mis primos tienen ojos azules.	My cousins have blue eyes.
Ojos marrones	Brown eyes	Ella tiene ojos marrones muy bonitos.	She has very pretty brown eyes.
Nariz grande	Big nose	El hombre tiene una nariz grande.	The man has a big nose.
Lentes / Gafas	Glasses	Mi abuela usa lentes.	My grandmother wears glasses.
Barba	Beard	El profesor tiene barba.	The teacher has a beard.
Bigote	Mustache	El señor tiene un bigote grande.	The man has a big mustache.
Moreno / Morena	Dark-haired / Dark-skinned	Mi amiga es morena.	My friend is dark-haired.
Canoso / Canosa	Gray-haired	Mi abuelo es canoso.	My grandfather has gray hair.

How to Use These Words in Real-Life Conversations

Memorizing vocabulary is not enough. You need to practice using it in context. Here are a few tips:

• Combine adjectives: Ella es alta y delgada. (She is tall and slim.)
• Add variety: Instead of only saying bonito, try guapo, atractivo, or hermoso.
• Practice with friends: Describe people you know in Spanish.
• Use real-life prompts: Watch a TV show, pause, and describe a character in Spanish.

The more you practice, the easier it becomes to recall the right words instantly.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even beginners can sound more natural if they avoid these common errors:

1. Forgetting gender agreement
   Spanish adjectives change based on gender.
   • El chico es alto. (The boy is tall.)
   • La chica es alta. (The girl is tall.)
2. Using English word order
   In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun.
   • La mujer alta (The tall woman).
     Not La alta mujer.
3. Overusing one word
   Beginners often rely only on bonito. Expand your vocabulary with different words.

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Practice Sentences with Descriptions

Here are sample sentences you can use as models:

• Mi amiga es morena y tiene el pelo largo. (My friend is dark-haired and has long hair.)
• El niño pequeño lleva gafas. (The small boy wears glasses.)
• El actor es alto, delgado y muy guapo. (The actor is tall, slim, and very handsome.)
• La profesora canosa tiene ojos azules. (The gray-haired teacher has blue eyes.)
• El hombre fuerte tiene barba. (The strong man has a beard.)

Practice saying these aloud. You’ll notice your confidence grows with repetition.

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Learning Strategy for Beginners

To make sure you remember these words:

• Flashcards: Write Spanish on one side, English on the other.
• Daily practice: Describe one person every day in Spanish.
• Voice recording: Record yourself and compare your pronunciation.
• Pair study: Practice with a partner and quiz each other.

Repetition and real usage are the keys to fluency.

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Cultural Note: Descriptions in Spanish-Speaking Countries

In Spanish-speaking cultures, physical descriptions are often used more casually than in English. For example, calling someone el gordo (the chubby one) or la rubia (the blonde one) is not always rude. It often works as a nickname or affectionate label. However, be mindful of the situation and the person’s feelings.

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Quick Recap

Here’s a short summary of the 25 Spanish describing people (physical appearance) vocabulary:

• General: alto, bajo, guapo, feo, joven
• Body shape: delgado, gordo, atlético, fuerte, débil
• Hair: pelo corto, pelo largo, pelo liso, pelo rizado, pelo rubio
• Facial features: ojos grandes, ojos pequeños, ojos azules, ojos marrones, nariz grande
• Additional features: lentes, barba, bigote, moreno, canoso

Learning these will give you a strong foundation for everyday conversations.

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Final Thoughts

Mastering Spanish describing people (physical appearance) vocabulary is a stepping stone for every beginner. With these 25 essential words, you’ll describe yourself, your friends, or even strangers with confidence.

Practice them daily, mix them in real sentences, and notice how your Spanish conversations become more natural and detailed. Language learning is about progress, not perfection. Start small, stay consistent, and soon you’ll describe people in Spanish as effortlessly as in your native tongue.

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✅ Next Step: Challenge yourself. Look at a family photo and describe each person in Spanish using at least three of the words from this list.

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