Vocabulary · Describing
Physical appearance in English
A2
Physical appearance in English: height and body shape, hair, eyes, age and general looks, with polite words to describe people kindly. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Height
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| tall(adj.)“He is very tall.” | above average height | /tɔːl/ |
| short(adj.) | below average height | /ʃɔːt/ |
| medium height(phrase) | neither tall nor short | /ˈmiːdiəm haɪt/ |
| tiny(adj.) | very, very small | /ˈtaɪni/ |
| huge(adj.) | very, very big | /hjuːdʒ/ |
Body shape
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| thin(adj.)“She is slim and tall.” | with little fat on the body | /θɪn/ |
| slim(adj.) | thin in an attractive way | /slɪm/ |
| skinny(adj.) | very thin, often too thin | /ˈskɪni/ |
| fat(adj.)“Avoid using "fat" to someone's face.” | with a lot of extra weight (rude) | /fæt/ |
| chubby(adj.) | a bit round, often said kindly | /ˈtʃʌbi/ |
| overweight(adj.) | heavier than is healthy (neutral) | /ˌəʊvəˈweɪt/ |
| muscular(adj.) | with a strong, powerful body | /ˈmʌskjələ/ |
| fit(adj.) | strong and healthy from exercise | /fɪt/ |
Hair
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| long hair(phrase)“She has long hair.” | hair that goes past the shoulders | /lɒŋ heə/ |
| short hair(phrase) | hair cut close to the head | /ʃɔːt heə/ |
| straight hair(phrase) | hair with no curls or waves | /streɪt heə/ |
| curly hair(phrase) | hair that grows in tight rings | /ˈkɜːli heə/ |
| wavy hair(phrase) | hair with soft S-shaped curves | /ˈweɪvi heə/ |
| blond / blonde(adj.) | with light yellow hair | /blɒnd/ |
| brunette(adj.) | with dark brown hair (for women) | /bruːˈnet/ |
| redhead(n.) | a person with red or orange hair | /ˈredhed/ |
| bald(adj.) | with little or no hair on the head | /bɔːld/ |
Eyes
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| blue eyes(phrase)“She has blue eyes.” | eyes the colour of the sky | /bluː aɪz/ |
| green eyes(phrase) | eyes the colour of grass | /ɡriːn aɪz/ |
| brown eyes(phrase) | eyes the colour of chocolate | /braʊn aɪz/ |
| hazel eyes(phrase) | eyes between green and light brown | /ˈheɪzl aɪz/ |
| big eyes(phrase) | large, round eyes | /bɪɡ aɪz/ |
Age
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| young(adj.) | in the early part of life | /jʌŋ/ |
| old(adj.) | having lived for many years | /əʊld/ |
| middle-aged(adj.) | between about 40 and 65 years old | /ˌmɪdl ˈeɪdʒd/ |
| elderly(adj.) | old (a polite, respectful word) | /ˈeldəli/ |
| teenager(n.) | a person aged 13 to 19 | /ˈtiːneɪdʒə/ |
General appearance
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| beautiful(adj.)“She's beautiful.” | very attractive and pleasant to look at | /ˈbjuːtɪfl/ |
| handsome(adj.) | attractive, used mostly for men | /ˈhænsəm/ |
| pretty(adj.) | nice to look at, mostly for girls | /ˈprɪti/ |
| good-looking(adj.) | attractive, for anyone | /ɡʊd ˈlʊkɪŋ/ |
| attractive(adj.) | pleasant to look at | /əˈtræktɪv/ |
| ugly(adj.) | not nice to look at | /ˈʌɡli/ |
| cute(adj.) | small and sweet, like a baby | /kjuːt/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
A man tall ❌: the adjective comes first
In English, the adjective goes before the noun: a tall man, not a man tall. This is a very common mistake.
A Spanish young tall woman ❌: adjectives have an order
When you use several adjectives, they follow an order: opinion + size + age + shape + colour + origin + material + noun. A beautiful tall young Spanish woman. This order is fixed.
You are fat ❌: choose a kinder word
Saying fat to someone's face is rude in English. Choose overweight (neutral) or chubby (kind). About yourself, you can say I've put on weight (I am heavier than before).
Practice quiz
Related pages: Physical appearance
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Frequently asked questions
How do you describe someone's appearance in English?+
Use be or have. With be + adjective: She is tall. He is muscular. With have + hair or eyes: She has blue eyes. He has long hair. The adjective always goes before the noun: long hair, not hair long.
What is the difference between slim, thin and skinny?+
Slim is positive: it is a compliment. Thin is neutral. Skinny can be negative, and it often means too thin. So use slim to say something nice, and be careful with skinny.
What is the difference between handsome, pretty and beautiful?+
Handsome is mostly for men. Pretty is mostly for women and girls. Beautiful is stronger, and you can use it for men and women. Good-looking is a general word for anyone.
How do you describe someone's age politely?+
For old people, elderly is polite and respectful, while old can sound rude. For people between about 40 and 65, say middle-aged. For people from 13 to 19, say teenagers. For children and young adults, say young.
Is it rude to call someone fat?+
Yes. In English, fat is very direct, and it can hurt people. Choose overweight (neutral, used by doctors), chubby (a bit round, a kind word for babies and children) or curvy (with a full figure, usually positive). Never say You are fat to someone.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/physical-appearance
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.