In today’s episode, we’re focusing on how to describe physical appearance in English. This is a key skill for everyday communication—whether you’re describing a friend, identifying someone, or telling a story. We’ll look at useful vocabulary, natural expressions, and tips to help you sound more fluent and precise.
Voice message from Ezequiel from Argentina
Body Language: https://inglespodcast.com/238
Romantic Body Language: https://inglespodcast.com/243
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Describing appearance
How would you describe yourself?
Age
young(ish)
youthful
middle-aged
elderly
getting on a bit/no spring chicken/over the hill
in his/her 20s, 30s, etc.
early/mid/late-teens, 30s, 40s, etc.
Hair & Facial Features
He/She’s got: short / long / shoulder-length hair
straight / wavy / curly
a fringe
a perm
a beard / a moustache
fair/dark/tanned complexion
piercing (bright) eyes
dark (brown) eyes
receding hairline
chubby cheeks
double chin
dimple
bags under the eyes
sticky-out ears
a bald patch
He/She’s:
thinning on top
(going) bald
Beards, moustaches and facial hair: https://inglespodcast.com/560
Order of adjectives before a noun: https://inglespodcast.com/92
Do you think appearance is important? Do you take pride in your appearance?
Height
(rather) tall
short (vertically challenged!)
average height
lanky: tall, thin, and moving a bit awkwardly.
Build (body type)
(‘fat’, ‘skinny’ and ‘thin’ can be rude)
slim, slender
a bit overweight, a bit on the heavy side
quite plump
well-built, stocky
muscular, toned, athletic
could lose a few pounds
Overall attractiveness
attractive
good-looking
handsome (men)
pretty/beautiful (women and babies)
gorgeous, stunning, sexy,
plain
How much do you judge a person by their appearance in the first five seconds? Is it possible not to?
Distinctive features
a big/long, Roman nose
full / thin lips
freckles
birthmark
mole
beauty mark
wrinkles
scars
tattoos
Expressions
a friendly / engaging smile
a serious expression
Clothing & Style
casual
formal
smart
elegant
sporty
Other useful terms
He/She’s well-dressed
fashionable / trendy / smart
scruffy (untidy)
He/She looks like…
He’s the spitting image of his father
He’s the kind of person who always dresses well.
They don’t look bad for their age.
He’s no oil painting.
She looks younger than she is.
She’s a looker. / She’s no looker.
He’s as ugly as sin!
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English. What do you usually notice first about someone? Do people judge others too much based on appearance?
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In next week’s episode: The Moon | vocabulary, collocations, expressions, facts and idioms
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The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’