When learning Portuguese, one of the most fundamental aspects of everyday conversation is the ability to describe people. Both physical appearance and character traits are commonly discussed when meeting new people or talking about friends and family. Below is a selection of Portuguese adjectives, their English translations, and example sentences that you can use to enrich your vocabulary.

Alto (Tall)
Describes a person with a greater than average height.
Meu irmão é muito alto para a idade dele.

Baixo (Short)
Used to describe someone of a smaller stature.
Ela é a pessoa mais baixa da sala de aula.

Magro (Thin)
Use this adjective for someone who is slim or skinny.
Ele sempre foi muito magro, mesmo comendo bastante.

Gordo (Fat)
Refers to someone who has excess body fat.
O médico disse que ele está um pouco gordo e precisa perder peso.

Bonito (Handsome/Beautiful)
Describes someone who is physically attractive.
Todas as meninas concordam que ele é o mais bonito da escola.

Feio (Ugly)
An adjective referring to someone who is not physically attractive.
Ele pode ser feio para alguns, mas tem um coração de ouro.

Jovem (Young)
Describing a person who is in the early stages of their life or who looks young.
Ela parece mais jovem do que realmente é.

Idoso (Elderly)
Refers to someone who is older or senior in age.
Meu avô é idoso mas ainda muito ativo.

Inteligente (Intelligent)
Used to describe someone who is smart or has a good understanding of things.
Ele é muito inteligente e sempre se sai bem nas provas.

Burro (Dumb/Stupid)
An informal word for someone who is not very smart or does foolish things.
Foi uma decisão burra investir todo o dinheiro nisso.

Simpático (Nice)
This word describes a person who is pleasant and easy to like.
A nova colega de trabalho é muito simpática.

Antipático (Unpleasant/Unfriendly)
Used for a person who is not easy to get along with or who has an unpleasant demeanor.
O vizinho do lado é bastante antipático.

Sociável (Sociable)
Refers to someone who enjoys socializing and interacts well with others.
Ela é muito sociável e tem muitos amigos.

Introvertido (Introverted)
Describes a person who is more reserved or enjoys spending time alone.
Meu melhor amigo é introvertido, mas ele é uma ótima pessoa.

Trabalhador (Hard-working)
An adjective for a person who is diligent and industrious in their work.
O novo funcionário é muito trabalhador.

Preguiçoso (Lazy)
Refers to a person who is not willing to work or use energy.
Não seja preguiçoso — faça o trabalho que você prometeu.

These are just a few examples of the many words you can use to describe people in Portuguese. Remember that the context in which these adjectives are used can greatly affect their meaning and one should always be aware of cultural sensitivities when describing others. Practice using these words in sentences and real-life conversations, and you’ll find your Portuguese descriptive skills will quickly improve!