Vocabulary/ A2 Vocabulary lessons and / Describing people’s appearance – A2 English Vocabulary
Describing People’s Appearance
Learn how to describe physical appearance using common adjectives and phrases
About This Lesson
In this A2 vocabulary lesson on Describing People’s Appearance, you’ll learn how to use adjectives and phrases to talk about height, build, hair, and other physical features. Check the illustrations and definitions below to build your descriptive vocabulary.
Vocabulary for Appearance
Illustrations showcasing terms like tall, short, slim, overweight, curly hair, freckles, etc.
Vocabulary by Category
tall — Height and Build
Higher in height than most people.
short — Height and Build
Smaller in height compared to others.
medium height/build — Height and Build
Not very tall or very short.
slim — Height and Build
Thin in a healthy and attractive way.
thin — Height and Build
Does not have much fat on their body (not necessarily attractive).
skinny — Height and Build
Extremely thin, often to an unhealthy extent or in an unattractive way.
overweight — Height and Build
Has more body fat than is considered healthy.
fit — Height and Build
In good physical shape with strong muscles.
curvy — Height and Build
Attractive because of the curves or rounded parts of the body (typically used for women).
petite — Height and Build
Small, thin, and delicate in an attractive way (typically used for women or girls).
long — Hair – Length
Reaches past the shoulders (for women).
short — Hair – Length
Any length shorter than shoulder-length.
medium-length — Hair – Length
Reaches near the shoulders.
blonde — Hair – Colour
Light yellowish hair colour.
brunette — Hair – Colour
A woman with dark brown hair.
wear glasses — Other Features
Uses corrective or protective eyewear.
beard — Other Features
Facial hair growing on the chin and cheeks.
moustache — Other Features
Facial hair growing above the upper lip.
wrinkles — Other Features
Lines that form on the skin as a person gets older.
freckles — Other Features
Small brown spots on the skin.
Usage Notes
When describing hair, follow this order: length → shape → colour.
- ✅ long dark hair
- ✅ short wavy hair
- ✅ curly blonde hair
To talk about height and weight:
- Use “be” for height: He is six feet tall.
- Use “weigh” for weight: She weighs 120 pounds.
To ask about someone’s appearance: “What does he/she look like?”