Spanish Adjectives: Describing People and Things

Adjectives of Physical Appearance and Personality

Height

  • Alto/Alta: Tall. Remember to adjust the ending based on the gender of the subject.
    • Masculine: Alto
    • Feminine: Alta
    • The \"o\" can change to \"a\" depending on whether you are talking about something feminine or masculine.
  • Corto/a: Short (in height).
  • Bajar: It does mean to go down. Often used to mean \"to go downstairs.\"

Length

  • Corto/a: Short (in length).
  • Largo/a: Long (in length).
    • False cognate. It looks like \"large,\" but it means \"long.\"
    • Large is "Grande."

Size/Build

  • Delgado/a: Thin.
    • \"Flaco/a\" is also used to mean \"thin\" or \"skinny\" and is often used as a nickname, less intense than in English.
  • Gordo/a: Fat.
    • In Spanish, this word isn't as harsh as it is in English. Sometimes used as a term of endearment (Gordito/a - chubby).

Strength

  • Fuerte: Strong. This word doesn't change based on gender.
  • Débil: Weak.
    • Related to the English word \"debilitate.\"
    • Debilitating injury weakens abilities.
    • Example: A debilitating car crash.

Age

  • Joven: Young.
    • Think of the word \"juvenile,\" which comes from the same root.
  • Viejo/a/ Mayor: Old.
    • \"Mayor\" is a nicer way to say \"old\", similar to how in English we might say \"older gentleman\" instead of \"old man.\"
    • Example: Hermana Mayor (older sister).

Attractiveness

  • Bonito/a or Lindo/a: Pretty, beautiful, or nice.
  • Guapo/a: Good-looking.

Physical Appearance

  • Feo/a: Ugly.
    • Reference to \"Ugly Betty\" (La Fea in Spanish).
  • Calvo/a: Bald.

Form

  • Ancho/a: Wide.
  • Delgado/a: Thin. Can describe people or things.
    • Not \"flaco/a\" for objects. \"Flaco/a\" is only for people.
  • Grueso/a: Thick.
  • Round.

Personality Traits

  • Simpático/a: Kind.
    • Relates to \"sympathy.\"
  • Antipático/a: Mean.
    • Describes someone who is mean overall, not just in a specific situation.
  • Amable: Friendly, lovable, loving, or affectionate.
  • Divertido/a: Fun.
  • Gracioso/a: Funny.
  • Aburrido/a: Boring.
  • Serio/a: Serious.
  • Responsable: Responsible. Spelling is similar to English but with an \"a\" instead of an \"i.\"
  • Inmaduro/a: Immature.
  • Tonto: Dumb.
  • Inteligente: Intelligent/Smart.
  • Listo: Clever/Smart. Used to describe someone is clever, quick.
    • Example: \"¡Ah, que listo!\" (\"Ah, how clever!\")

Work Ethic

  • Trabajador/a: Hardworking. From the verb \"Trabajar\" (to work).
  • Perezoso/a: Lazy.
    • Sloth in Spanish is \"Oso perezoso,\" which literally translates to lazy bear.

Social interaction

  • Extrovertido/a: Extraverted or outgoing.
  • Tímido/a: Shy or timid.
  • Callado/a: Quiet.
  • Hablador/a: Talkative or chatty.