In the English language, the most important skill that an individual can gain is the ability to describe people and their personalities in such a way that the listeners are fascinated. This is important in all the activities where a conversation takes place or a story is told or a person is tried to be understood in depth. This article will give us the vocabulary necessary for describing and explaining individuals' physical attributes and personality characteristics.
1. Appearance: General Terms
When portraying or describing a person's outward features, it is essential to have a complete vocabulary mix that covers both the general and the minute features of inflections. Here are some general terms you can use when speaking about how someone looks.
- Tall / Short : These are basic words to describe height. A person can be tall, short, or of average height.
- Slim / Thin : These terms are used for people who have a slender body shape. "Slim" often has a more positive connotation, while "thin" can sometimes suggest being too skinny.
- Chubby / Overweight : These words describe people who are heavier in body shape. "Chubby" can be a more friendly term, particularly when speaking of children, while "overweight" is more neutral.
- Fit/Muscular : Used to refer to individuals who are physically strong or well-toned. These words are usually associated with an individual who frequently exercises.
- Plump : An indirect term used to mean 'a little overweight' and intended to be pleasant.
2. Facial Features
Three such features, eyes, hair and face structure are the general categories that help in describing one's face. The impression of an individual's appearance can be influenced by the composition of the face's parts.
- Round face/Oval face : These words best describe the general configuration of a person's face. A round face has a circle shape while an oval face is elongated rather.
- Freckles : Small brown discolorations of the skin, especially of fair-skinned individuals.
- Wrinkles : Rest creases in the skin that a person develops on his skin due to age.
- Dimples : Defined as small depressions which are found in cheeks when a person smiles.
- Pale/Tanned : This is used in reference as to the complexion of an individual. Pale means of a light complexion while tanned means rough dry skin from the sun.
3. Hair
Undoubtedly, hair is another feature that we hear compliments about and notice when we look at someone. So here are a few terms which can be used for describing the hair in more detail.
- Curly / Wavy / Straight : These are the descriptive terms for hair. Curls are caused by curling the hair tightly, waves are caused by the loosening of the hair while straight hair has no curls or waves.
- Blonde / Brunette / Redhead : These are the adjectives for the color of the hair. "Blonde" describes yellow or light-colored hair, "Brunette" describes brown or dark color hair, and "redhead" describes a person who has red or ginger hair color.
- Bald : It is the status or condition of a person in which no head hairs are present upon his or her scalp.
- Shoulder-length / Short / Long : These are the adjectives which also portray someone's hair but this time it is regarding the length of the hair.
- Frizzy : The best description for hair that grows out of the head and is quite tightly curled. This type of hair is wild and is easily unruly.
4. Eyes
The explanation of what a person is like can start with the eyes which is the second most conveyance part of the face and in English, there are many words to describe the eyes also.
- Blue / Green / Brown / Hazel : Anyone's procession who has eyes of the above colors, he or she does not have any defects and that's why it is very easy for others to define the color of his or her eyes.
- Bright eyes : Such a description is generally used by 'Mothers' for their daughters when showing off how delightful their children are, and how full of life their eyes are.
- Wide-eyed : A person having a wide, opened look as if surprised or innocent. Can also be used to describe a person who has baby-like eyes.
- Narrowed eyes : People seem to be in a squint due to either having a suspicion or due to concentrating on something specific.
- Eyebrows : Based on their density and size, these can be further divided into thick and thin, arches and so forth.
5. Age Depiction
There are several decent approaches towards describing somebody's age in the English language. A particular word that has caused many problems is age. However, these terms do help in order to provide a rough estimate of a person's age.
- Young / Youth : Normally employed for individuals in their teens, twenties or the early thirties. Even the term "youthful" can apply to someone older but youthful in person or behavior.
- Middle-aged : This will include people ranging from forty years to sixty years of age.
- Elderly / Senior : For the older aged which is generally over the age of sixty five. "Elderly" and "senior" are generally considered proper terminology when speaking about old aged people.
6. Personality traits: Good
Personality of, let's say, is a person, is equally significant as the outer look, or rather can be considered as part of someone's outer look as well. Most common favorable personality traits are about the following qualities:
- Friendly : A person who is, when addressed, makes it easy for other people and helps them to feel easy and comfortable.
- Generous : A person who is charitable and is willing to share money, time or even an act of kindness.
- Hardworking : A person who is committed and is ready to put in much effort in order to ensure tasks are completed.
- Creative : Someone who has very many innovative ideas and goes beyond the common thought.
- Confident : A person who has faith in himself and his capabilities.
- Optimistic : Someone who looks at the bright side of any event and believes in positive results.
- Sociable : A person who loves the company of other people and is likely to make a lot of friends.
7. Personality Traits: Negative
However, it should sometimes be necessary to utilize negative personality traits in description. This is where some words can come in handy.
- Arrogant : An individual who believes that he is more important than others with very little or no proof to support that claim.
- Selfish : A person who only has regard for their own interests without any consideration for other people's interests or feelings.
- Lazy : An individual who does not reach even the minimum effort which is warranted and avoids work.
- Impatient : Someone who is quick to lose their cool and is not able to endure delays.
- Rude : A person who does not follow the rules of etiquette and behaves in a disgraceful manner to people.
- Moody : A person whose state of being changes with the slightest of things and is characterized by being irritable and high maintenance.
- Pessimistic : Such people are negative thinkers and are ever ready to bring forth negative outcomes or envisage negative events.
8. Emotional Descriptions
How a single person is feeling at a given moment in time is also crucial, in addition to personality dimensions. Below are some of the emotional descriptors.
- Excited : Someone who is bubbling with energy and enthused about something as they look forward to it.
- Nervous : A person who feels uneasy because they dread for something that is yet to happen.
- Calm : A person who is unperturbed and composed and does not get easily angered or stressed out.
- Frustrated : Someone who feels offended or demoralized because they are unable to do or attain something.
- Happy / Sad : Two very basic emotions and should as a matter of fact describe someone's mood in a positive and negative manner.
9. Describing Clothing and Style
Another area of appearance that can make one understand the person more and in detail is clothing. Here are some of the common phrases that are used while writing about clothing and style.
- Casual : A style of clothes worn for comfort and laid-back occasions and events.
- Formal : Refers to clothing that is presentable in official or special events, such as a tuxedo or gown.
- Trendy : An individual who keeps up with the latest fashions and what is trending at the moment.
- Elegant : A person who puts on stylish and classy clothes and has a good sense of fashion.
- Sloppy : It indicates a person who is shabbily dressed or not appropriately dressed.
- Chic : It applies to a woman who is stylish and fashionable in somewhat understated and classical manners.
10. Body Language
Body language contributes greatly to the image, and where words do not suffice, body language will tell the person everything.
- Because of standing or sitting with the back straight - this is often regarded as a sign of confidence.
- Sit or stand and bend their back - which indicates that one has grown tired or lazy.
- Together are their arms when most people are relaxed, - this may stereotype some cultures from the defensiveness or warmness.
- Someone with his/her hands hanging unnaturally by their sides, is relaxed and is likely to be approachable and not tense.
- Biting of the fingernails; tapping feet; refusal to make eye contact. There are all signs which indicate nervousness or discomfort on the part of the individual.
English descriptors of people must be enriched with a variety for appearance and character. An understanding of the right ideas will assist in communicating one's looks and actions. This will further improve reading and writing and comprehending advanced texts where human descriptions are of great importance.
