Describing someone’s physical appearance in English can be difficult. Some adjectives are neutral. Others can sound rude, old-fashioned, or impolite if you choose the wrong word.
Many English learners know basic adjectives, but feel unsure which ones are safe to use when talking about people. This is especially true in social situations.
On this page, you will find common English adjectives used to describe physical appearance, with clear meanings and examples. The focus is on natural, everyday English that does not sound offensive or awkward.
List of adjectives for physical appearance
Advanced Adjectives to Describe Physical Appearance
When describing physical appearance in English, learners often rely on the same words again and again. This can make speech sound repetitive, and sometimes unnatural.
Native speakers usually choose different adjectives depending on context, tone, and the situation. Using the wrong word is not a grammar mistake, but it can sound strange or careless.
Sometimes, students learning English overuse one particular adjective to describe physical appearance.
Have you guessed yet which one? Correct. This adjective tops up the list of words describing physical appearance in English – NICE.
Nice baby, nice looking girl, nice toddler, nice man …
Boring…
Let’s expand your vocabulary of English adjectives for physical appearance and go beyond the standard NICE or NOT SO NICE when trying to describe a person in detail.
My list of English adjectives will help you.
Work English that sounds natural and professional
A short PDF with the phrases I actually let my private students use at work. Pick a phrase, use it today, and feel more confident in meetings and emails.
Common Adjectives to Describe Physical Appearance
beautiful
this word is mostly used to describe women. We use the word handsome for men.
Sandra Bullock was voted People magazine’s World’s Most Beautiful Woman 2015.
good-looking
– is used for both men and women
The young bride was beautiful and her groom was good-looking as well.
pretty
attractive, often used to describe a girl
I think Mary looked very pretty in that dress.
chubby
slightly overweight but in an attractive way
Babies look so adorable with their chubby pink cheeks.
cute
pretty and attractive, often used to describe babies and puppies
I picked this puppy because he was so cute.
Common Adjectives to Describe Physical Appearance
gorgeous
very beautiful and attractive (informal), this is a very common word you would hear from an Irish person
Healthy diet and sunscreen are the secrets to gorgeous skin.
ugly
very unattractive. This is a very strong negative word to describe someone.
The Ugly Duckling turned into a beautiful swan.
well-built
to have a strong, attractively muscular body
My brother is tall and well-built.
It is impolite to say someone is fat, instead, we can say overweight or plump.
skinny
very thin but not in an attractive way
My best friend is skinny, but it runs in her family.
frail
physically weak and skinny, often used to describe an old person
My Grandma became very frail over the last year.
If you also want to describe what a person is like, not just how they look, you may find these English idioms describing character and personality useful.
English Adjectives for Physical Appearance
sleek hair
Meaning: smooth and shiny hair
Hair products will help you get shiny sleek hair without spending much time.
youthful appearance
Meaning: to look younger than your age
Regular physical activity can help maintain a youthful appearance for longer.
coarse hair
Meaning: rough, not smooth or soft
Coarse hair is very hard to style.
bushy eyebrows
Meaning: very thick eyebrows
I’ve always hated my bushy eyebrows.
Collocations for Describing Physical Appearance
lanky teenager
Meaning: very tall and thin and moves awkwardly
I can’t believe this lanky teenager became a great football player.
jet-black hair
Meaning: completely black hair
Alexandra had long jet-black hair, green eyes and a warm, friendly smile.
clean-shaven man
Meaning: without a beard or moustache
A dark-haired, clean-shaven man was talking to his friend.
dumpy woman
Meaning: short and quite fat woman, we usually use it to describe women englishclass101
Sarah was a pale, dumpy woman, three years older than her husband.
This is way better than NICE, isn’t it? Of course, you can still use NICE when describing someone in English. Just not too often. Now, let’s practise using English adjectives to describe physical appearance.
More Information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
Intermediate English travel vocabulary
English vocabulary related to driving
You can always study English advanced level at Learning English with the BBC and British Council Learn English.
