Words to describe a person: 100 adjectives for personality and appearance
To describe a person in English you need two kinds of words: personality (kind, stubborn, easy-going) and appearance (tall, curly hair, in her thirties). Here are 100 words to describe a person, with meanings and example sentences, polite ways to say negative things, the right order for appearance adjectives, and two model descriptions you can copy for conversations and speaking tests.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 11 min read
On this page
- 22 positive words to describe someone’s personality
- 15 negative personality words, and a softer way to say each
- 8 words that are neither good nor bad
- Words to describe someone’s appearance
- The order of adjectives for appearance
- Phrases that sound more natural than single adjectives
- Two model descriptions
- Practise describing people out loud
- FAQ
- Sources
22 positive words to describe someone’s personality
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kind | caring and generous to others | She’s so kind; she always checks on new colleagues. |
| honest | tells the truth | He’s honest, even when it’s uncomfortable. |
| reliable | you can trust them to do what they say | If Sam says he’ll help, he will. He’s really reliable. |
| hard-working | puts a lot of effort into work | My mum is the most hard-working person I know. |
| easy-going | relaxed, not easily upset | He’s easy-going, so nothing really stresses him. |
| outgoing | sociable, enjoys meeting people | She’s outgoing and talks to everyone at parties. |
| thoughtful | thinks about others’ feelings | It was thoughtful of him to remember my birthday. |
| patient | stays calm when waiting or when things are slow | You need to be patient to teach children. |
| confident | believes in their own abilities | She’s confident speaking in front of big groups. |
| generous | happy to give time or money | My grandfather was generous with everyone. |
| funny | makes people laugh | He’s really funny; his stories are the best. |
| curious | wants to learn and know things | She’s curious about everything and asks great questions. |
| ambitious | wants to succeed and achieve a lot | He’s ambitious; he wants his own company by 30. |
| creative | has original ideas | My sister is very creative; she designs her own clothes. |
| determined | does not give up | She failed twice but she was determined to pass. |
| loyal | stays with and supports people | He’s a loyal friend; he’s been there for years. |
| optimistic | expects good things to happen | Even in bad times, she stays optimistic. |
| empathetic | understands how others feel | A good nurse is empathetic. |
| down-to-earth | practical and modest, not arrogant | He’s famous but really down-to-earth. |
| open-minded | happy to consider new ideas | She’s open-minded about other cultures. |
| calm | does not get stressed or angry easily | He stays calm even when everything goes wrong. |
| polite | has good manners and respects others | She’s always polite to waiters and staff. |
15 negative personality words, and a softer way to say each
In English, people usually soften criticism, especially about someone you know. Use the softer version in conversation and keep the direct word for close friends.
| Word | Meaning | A softer way to say it |
|---|---|---|
| rude | not polite | “He can be a bit direct.” |
| lazy | does not want to work | “She’s not the most motivated person.” |
| selfish | thinks only about themselves | “He tends to put himself first.” |
| arrogant | thinks they are better than others | “She’s very sure of herself.” |
| stubborn | refuses to change their mind | “He’s quite set in his ways.” |
| bossy | likes telling people what to do | “She likes to take charge.” |
| moody | mood changes often | “He has his ups and downs.” |
| impatient | gets annoyed when waiting | “She’s not the most patient person.” |
| mean | unkind (UK) or not generous with money | “He’s careful with money.” |
| nosy | too interested in others’ private lives | “She’s very curious about other people.” |
| clumsy | often drops or breaks things | “He’s a bit accident-prone.” |
| unreliable | you cannot count on them | “He’s not always great with deadlines.” |
| two-faced | nice to you, then unkind behind your back | “I’m not sure I trust her.” |
| grumpy | often in a bad mood | “He’s not a morning person.” |
| self-centred | only talks about themselves | “She loves to talk about her own life.” |
Other softeners: a bit (“a bit bossy”), can be (“he can be moody”), tends to (“she tends to interrupt”), not very + the positive word (“not very patient”).
8 words that are neither good nor bad
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| shy | nervous with new people | He’s shy at first, but friendly when you know him. |
| quiet | does not talk much | She’s quiet in meetings but her ideas are great. |
| introverted | gets energy from time alone | I’m introverted, so I need a quiet evening after a party. |
| extroverted | gets energy from people | He’s extroverted and hates working from home. |
| serious | not often joking | My boss seems serious, but she’s very fair. |
| competitive | wants to win | He’s so competitive, even at board games. |
| sensitive | easily affected by feelings (good or bad) | She’s sensitive, so be gentle with feedback. |
| talkative | talks a lot | My aunt is very talkative; phone calls last an hour. |
Words to describe someone’s appearance
| Feature | Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Build | slim, thin, skinny (often negative), slender, well-built, muscular, stocky, overweight (polite: “a bit heavier”), athletic | He’s tall and athletic. |
| Height | tall, short, medium height, average height | She’s about medium height. |
| Age | young, in his twenties, middle-aged, in her fifties, elderly (polite for old) | He’s in his late forties. |
| Hair | long, short, shoulder-length, straight, wavy, curly, blonde, dark, brown, grey, red, bald, a ponytail, a fringe (UK) / bangs (US) | She has long, curly dark hair. |
| Face | round, oval, a beard, a moustache, freckles, glasses, dimples, wrinkles, a big smile | He has a beard and wears glasses. |
| Eyes | brown, blue, green, hazel, big, bright | She has big brown eyes. |
| General | good-looking, attractive, handsome (usually men), pretty (usually women), smart, well-dressed, casual, stylish | He’s always well-dressed. |
Be careful with: “fat” and “old” sound rude about someone; use “a bit heavier”, “well-built”, “older” or “elderly”. “Skinny” can sound negative; “slim” is a compliment.
The order of adjectives for appearance
When you use two or three adjectives before a noun, English has a usual order: opinion → size → age → shape → colour → noun.
| Correct | Sounds wrong |
|---|---|
| long curly black hair | black curly long hair |
| a friendly young woman | a young friendly woman |
| big brown eyes | brown big eyes |
| a tall thin man | a thin tall man |
In speaking, two adjectives before a noun is plenty. Use a second sentence for the rest: “She has long curly hair. It’s dark brown.”
Phrases that sound more natural than single adjectives
| Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| He’s the kind of person who… | …always remembers your name. |
| She’s really good at… | …making people feel welcome. |
| He’s always there for… | …his friends when they need help. |
| She has a great sense of humour | and can make anyone laugh. |
| He gets on well with… | …everyone, even difficult customers. |
| She’s a people person | (she enjoys working with people). |
| He’s a bit of a perfectionist | (he wants everything to be perfect). |
| What I like most about her is… | …how calm she is under pressure. |
Two model descriptions
A friend (personality first):
“My best friend Ana is one of the most reliable people I know. She’s quite quiet at first, but once you know her she’s really funny. She’s the kind of person who remembers small things, like how you take your coffee. She can be a bit stubborn when she’s sure she’s right, but she’s usually right, so I don’t mind.”A colleague (appearance and personality):
“My manager is a tall man in his late forties, with short grey hair and glasses. He’s always well-dressed, but he’s very down-to-earth. He’s patient with new people and good at explaining things, though he tends to talk a bit too long in meetings.”Both use the same pattern: a general word, an example, and one softened negative. That is exactly what speaking tests reward. For the IELTS version, see IELTS “describe a person” cue cards.
Practise describing people out loud
- Describe three people you know in one minute each: a family member, a friend, a colleague or teacher.
- Use at least one word from each table, one phrase, and one softened negative.
- Record yourself and check: did you give an example for each adjective?
- Need more speaking topics? Try just a minute topics and introducing yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What are some good words to describe a person?
Good words to describe a person include kind, honest, reliable, hard-working, easy-going, outgoing, thoughtful, patient, confident and generous for personality, and tall, slim, well-built, curly-haired and well-dressed for appearance.
What are adjectives to describe personality?
Adjectives to describe personality include positive words such as kind, loyal, ambitious and open-minded, negative words such as stubborn, selfish and moody, and neutral words such as shy, quiet, competitive and talkative.
How do you describe someone politely in English?
To describe someone politely, soften negative words with “a bit”, “can be” or “tends to”, or use “not very” with a positive word: “He can be a bit stubborn”, “She’s not very patient”. Avoid “fat” and “old”; say “a bit heavier” or “older”.
How do you describe a person’s appearance in English?
Describe appearance in this order: height and build, age, hair, face, then clothes. For example: “She’s tall and slim, in her thirties, with long curly dark hair, and she usually wears glasses.”
What is the order of adjectives in English?
The usual order of adjectives in English is opinion, size, age, shape, colour, then the noun, for example “a friendly young woman” or “long curly black hair”.
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- Adjectives: order, Cambridge Dictionary, English Grammar Today
- Adjectives, Cambridge Dictionary, English Grammar Today