Describing people
Describing appearance and personality
Context
Listen to the dialogue. Tap the speaker to hear each line.
Laura
¿Quién es tu nuevo compañero de trabajo?
Who is your new coworker?
Pedro
Es un hombre alto, con pelo oscuro y gafas.
He is a tall man, with dark hair and glasses.
Laura
¿Es joven o mayor?
Is he young or older?
Pedro
Tiene unos treinta años. Es muy simpático y trabajador.
He is about thirty. He is very friendly and hard-working.
Laura
¿Y cómo es su personalidad?
And what is his personality like?
Pedro
Es tranquilo y paciente, pero a veces un poco tímido.
He is calm and patient, but sometimes a bit shy.
Practice the dialogue
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Vocabulary
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alto
Mi hermano es muy alto.
Use 'alto' for height. 'Está alto' (temporary) is rare; use 'es alto' for a permanent trait.
tall
Savebajo
Es bajo pero muy rápido.
'Bajo' also means 'low'. For height, describe a person: 'es bajo'.
short (height)
Saveel pelo
Tiene el pelo largo y negro.
In Spanish, 'pelo' is uncountable when talking about all the hair on the head.
the hair
Savelas gafas
Usa gafas para leer.
'Gafas' is plural in Spanish, like 'scissors' in English.
the glasses
Savesimpático
La vendedora fue muy simpática.
'Simpático' is about being pleasant, not 'sympathetic' (that is 'compasivo').
friendly, nice
Savetranquilo
Me gusta la gente tranquila.
Also means 'quiet' for places: 'un barrio tranquilo'.
calm
Savetímido
Es tímido al principio, pero luego habla mucho.
Timidez = shyness. 'Penoso' in some countries means the same.
shy
SaveGrammar in 1 minute
Ser vs. tener for descriptions
Use 'ser' for permanent traits: 'es alto', 'es simpático'. Use 'tener' for features you have: 'tiene el pelo largo', 'tiene 30 años'. Never say 'es 30 años' — age uses tener.
Es alta y tiene los ojos verdes. Tiene veinticinco años.
A quick rule: if English uses 'is' for appearance → ser; if English uses 'has' → tener.
Gender agreement
Adjectives agree with the person: 'Es alto' (man), 'Es alta' (woman). Adjectives ending in -e or a consonant stay the same: 'simpático/simpática' but 'joven', 'trabajador/trabajadora'.
Pedro es trabajador. Laura es trabajadora y simpática.
'Trabajador' adds -a for feminine: trabajadora.
Interactive practice
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What is the sister like?
Listen and choose the correct option.
What is the sister like?
Mi hermano … y tiene gafas.
Write the missing word or words.
Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.
matching
Connect each Spanish word with its English meaning.
Describe your best friend using two physical traits and one…
Write your answer in Spanish.
Describe your best friend using two physical traits and one personality trait.
Suggested answer: Mi mejor amigo es alto, tiene el pelo negro y es muy simpático.
Es una persona muy simpática y trabajadora.
Listen and repeat the sentence out loud.
Es una persona muy simpática y trabajadora.
He/She is a very friendly and hard-working person.
Listen, pause and repeat out loud. Repeat 3 times until it sounds natural.
Pronunciation trainer
Final quiz
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