Vocabulary · Describing
Shapes and sizes in English
A2
Shapes and sizes in English: flat and 3D shapes, adjectives like round or flat, words for big and small, and how to give the length, width and height of things. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Shapes (nouns)
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| square(n.)“A square has 4 equal sides.” | a shape with four equal sides | /skweə/ |
| circle(n.) | a perfectly round flat shape | /ˈsɜːkl/ |
| triangle(n.) | a shape with three sides | /ˈtraɪæŋɡl/ |
| rectangle(n.) | four sides, two long and two short | /ˈrektæŋɡl/ |
| oval(n.) | a shape like an egg | /ˈəʊvl/ |
| diamond(n.) | a square standing on one corner | /ˈdaɪəmənd/ |
| star(n.) | a shape with five or more points | /stɑː/ |
| heart(n.) | the shape that means love | /hɑːt/ |
Shapes (adjectives)
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| round(adj.)“A round table.” | shaped like a circle or a ball | /raʊnd/ |
| square(adj.)“A square table.” | with four equal sides and corners | /skweə/ |
| oval(adj.) | shaped like an egg | /ˈəʊvl/ |
| curved(adj.) | bent like part of a circle | /kɜːvd/ |
| straight(adj.) | without any bends | /streɪt/ |
| pointed(adj.) | with a sharp end | /ˈpɔɪntɪd/ |
| flat(adj.) | smooth and level, not round | /flæt/ |
3D shapes
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cube(n.) | a box shape with six equal faces | /kjuːb/ |
| sphere(n.) | a perfectly round ball shape | /sfɪə/ |
| cylinder(n.) | a tube shape, like a can | /ˈsɪlɪndə/ |
| cone(n.) | a round base going up to a point | /kəʊn/ |
| pyramid(n.) | a square base with four triangle sides | /ˈpɪrəmɪd/ |
Sizes
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| big(adj.) | of more than normal size | /bɪɡ/ |
| small(adj.) | of less than normal size | /smɔːl/ |
| large(adj.)“A large coffee.” | big, often for sizes and amounts | /lɑːdʒ/ |
| huge(adj.) | very, very big | /hjuːdʒ/ |
| enormous(adj.) | extremely big | /ɪˈnɔːməs/ |
| tiny(adj.) | very, very small | /ˈtaɪni/ |
| medium(adj.) | between small and large | /ˈmiːdiəm/ |
| gigantic(adj.) | as big as a giant | /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/ |
Dimensions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| long(adj.) | measuring a lot from end to end | /lɒŋ/ |
| short(adj.) | not long | /ʃɔːt/ |
| wide(adj.) | measuring a lot from side to side | /waɪd/ |
| narrow(adj.) | not wide | /ˈnærəʊ/ |
| tall(adj.) | big from bottom to top (people, trees) | /tɔːl/ |
| short(adj.) | not tall | /ʃɔːt/ |
| high(adj.) | far above the ground | /haɪ/ |
| low(adj.) | close to the ground | /ləʊ/ |
| thick(adj.) | not thin, like a big book | /θɪk/ |
| thin(adj.) | not thick, like a sheet of paper | /θɪn/ |
| deep(adj.) | going a long way down | /diːp/ |
| shallow(adj.) | not deep, with little water | /ˈʃæləʊ/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Big or large?
Big and large often mean the same, but big is more informal. For sizes in shops and cafés, use large: size L means large, and menus say small, medium and large.
A high boy ❌: people are tall
Use tall for people and for things that are long from bottom to top: a tall boy, a tall tree. Use high for things far above the ground, or for big amounts: a high mountain, a high wall, a high price. Never say a high person.
A circle table ❌: use the adjective round
Circle is a noun. To describe an object, use the adjective: a round table. It is the same for other shapes: a rectangular box, a triangular sign. Square and oval do not change: a square table, an oval mirror. Square is also a public place: Trafalgar Square.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What does square mean in English?+
Square is a shape with four equal sides. It is a noun (a square) and an adjective (a square table). It can also mean an open public place in a town: Trafalgar Square.
What is the difference between big and large?+
They often mean the same: a big house = a large house. Big is more common and more informal. Large is a bit more formal, and it is the word for sizes: clothes (size L means large) and drinks (a large coffee).
What is the difference between tall and high?+
Tall is for people and things that are long from bottom to top: a tall person, a tall tree, a tall building. High is for things far above the ground, or for big amounts: a high mountain, a high shelf, a high price.
How do you describe the size of something in English?+
Use be + number + unit + adjective: The room is 5 metres wide. The pool is 2 metres deep. The tower is 300 metres high. The adjective (long, wide, tall, high, deep) always comes after the number.
What are other words for big and small?+
For big: big (general), large (size), tall (from bottom to top), huge or enormous (very big), gigantic (extremely big). For small: small (general), little (often with a feeling: a cute little dog), short (not tall or long), tiny (very small), miniature (a very small copy of something).
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/shapes-and-sizes
© 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.