How to Describe People in Spanish: Beyond Just "Guapo" and "Alto"


Ever find yourself traveling, meeting new people, or trying to talk about your friends in Spanish, and the only words that come to mind are "guapo" or "bonita"? You're not alone! Describing someone in a new language can feel a little tricky, but it's one of the most useful skills you can have.

Whether you’re talking about a new friend, your favorite celebrity, or even a family member, this guide will give you all the Spanish adjectives for people you need. We’ll cover everything from physical features to personality traits, and we'll show you exactly how to describe someone in Spanish with confidence.

Understanding the Spanish Verbs: Ser, Estar, and Tener

Before you start stringing together a bunch of adjectives, you need to know which verb to use. This is a common point of confusion for many Spanish learners, but once you get it, it clicks!

  • Ser (to be) is for permanent or inherent qualities. Think of things that are part of a person's identity.

    • Él es alto. (He is tall.)

    • Ella es inteligente. (She is intelligent.)

    • Nosotros somos amigos. (We are friends.)

  • Estar (to be) is for temporary states or conditions.

    • Él está cansado. (He is tired.)

    • Ella está contenta. (She is happy.)

  • Tener (to have) is for describing things people possess, like hair, eyes, or certain personality traits (like luck or fear).

    • Ella tiene el pelo rubio. (She has blonde hair.)

    • Él tiene ojos azules. (He has blue eyes.)

Describing Someone Physically: From Head to Toe

Ready to get specific? The key to a good Spanish physical description is having the right vocabulary. Let's break it down.

Hair and Eyes: The Details Matter

When you want to describe someone’s hair or eyes, you'll almost always use the verb tener.

  • Hair (Pelo) Adjectives:

    • rubio/a (blonde)

    • castaño/a (brown)

    • negro/a (black)

    • largo/a (long)

    • corto/a (short)

    • rizado/a (curly)

    • liso/a (straight)

  • Eye (Ojos) Adjectives:

    • azul (blue)

    • verde (green)

    • marrón (brown)

    • grande (big)

    • pequeño/a (small)

Pro-Tip: If you want to say someone has "brown hair," you can say tiene el pelo castaño. You can also use the phrase es moreno/a (he/she is dark-haired).

Height and Body Type: Simple Yet Essential

These are some of the most basic and useful words to know.

  • Height:

    • alto/a (tall)

    • bajo/a (short)

    • mediano/a (medium height)

  • Build:

    • delgado/a or flaco/a (thin/skinny)

    • gordo/a (fat/heavy)

    • fuerte (strong)

Describing Personality: Beyond the Surface

The real fun of describing people is talking about who they are on the inside! These Spanish personality adjectives are perfect for painting a picture of someone's character.

  • amable (kind, friendly)

  • inteligente (intelligent, smart)

  • divertido/a (fun, funny)

  • simpático/a (nice, pleasant)

  • trabajador/a (hard-working)

  • perezoso/a (lazy)

  • tímido/a (shy)

  • extrovertido/a (extroverted)

Example Phrases:

  • Mi amigo es muy trabajador y amable. (My friend is very hard-working and kind.)

  • Mi hermana es divertida y un poco tímida. (My sister is fun and a little shy.)

Bringing It All Together: Spanish Phrases to Describe People

Now let’s put these words and verbs into action. These simple phrases will help you create full sentences.

  • ¿Cómo es…? (What is… like? - for permanent traits)

    • ¿Cómo es tu padre? (What is your father like?)

    • Él es alto y muy gracioso. (He is tall and very funny.)

  • ¿Qué tal…? (How is…? - for temporary states)

    • ¿Qué tal está tu amigo? (How is your friend doing?)

    • Él está un poco cansado. (He is a little tired.)

Describing Your Family and Friends

Let’s practice by talking about the people closest to you. Using these Spanish adjectives to describe family members is a great way to reinforce what you've learned.

  • Mi padre es alto y tiene el pelo gris. (My father is tall and has gray hair.)

  • Mi madre es muy amable y divertida. (My mother is very kind and fun.)

  • Mi hermano es delgado y le gusta mucho el deporte. (My brother is thin and he really likes sports.)

What About Age, Clothes, or Hobbies?

Want to get even more specific? No problem! These Spanish phrases for describing people will help you round out your descriptions.

  • Age: Use tener to talk about age.

    • Ella tiene 25 años. (She is 25 years old.)

  • Clothes: Use llevar (to wear).

    • Él lleva una camiseta azul. (He is wearing a blue t-shirt.)

  • Hobbies: Use gustar (to like).

    • A ella le gusta bailar. (She likes to dance.)

Learning how to describe people in Spanish is more than just memorizing a list of words. It’s about being able to connect with others and share stories about the people who matter most to you. So go ahead, practice with a friend, and start painting vivid pictures with your words!