Basic Vocabulary for Describing People in Galician
Physical Appearance
- Alto/a – Tall
- Baixo/a – Short
- Delgado/a – Slim
- Gordo/a – Overweight
- Guapo/a – Handsome/Beautiful
- Feo/a – Ugly
- Moreno/a – Dark-haired
- Rubio/a – Blonde
- Pelirroxo/a – Red-haired
- Ollos azuis/verdes/castaños/negros – Blue/green/brown/black eyes
Age
- Neno/a – Child
- Mozo/a – Young man/woman
- Adulto/a – Adult
- Vello/a – Old
- Maior – Elderly
Personality Traits
- Amable – Kind
- Simático/a – Friendly
- Traballador/a – Hardworking
- Perezoso/a – Lazy
- Extrovertido/a – Outgoing
- Tímido/a – Shy
- Intelixente – Intelligent
- Divertido/a – Fun/funny
- Serio/a – Serious
Essential Grammar: Agreement and Sentence Structure
Gender and Number Agreement
In Galician, adjectives must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they describe. For example:
- Un home alto (A tall man) – masculine singular
- Dúas mulleres altas (Two tall women) – feminine plural
Pay attention to the endings: -o for masculine, -a for feminine, and add -s for plurals.
Useful Sentence Patterns
To describe people, you can use the following structures:
- Ser + adjective: Ela é simpática (She is friendly).
- Ter + physical trait: El ten ollos verdes (He has green eyes).
- Parecer + adjective: Parece serio (He seems serious).
Practical Examples
- Meu irmán é baixo e ten o pelo moreno. (My brother is short and has dark hair.)
- A profesora é moi intelixente e amable. (The teacher is very intelligent and kind.)
- Os meus amigos son divertidos e extrovertidos. (My friends are fun and outgoing.)
- Ela parece maior, pero é moi activa. (She looks older, but she is very active.)
Tips for Describing People Naturally in Galician
- Mix physical and personality traits for fuller descriptions.
- Practice using both ser and ter to talk about permanent and temporary traits.
- Listen to native speakers and repeat common phrases you hear.
- Try describing people you know to practice vocabulary and grammar.
- Use Talkpal’s interactive tools to get feedback and expand your vocabulary.
Expanding Your Descriptive Vocabulary
As you become more comfortable, try adding more specific words to your descriptions, such as:
- Leva lentes (Wears glasses)
- Ten barba (Has a beard)
- É rubia de ollos claros (She is blonde with light eyes)
- É unha persoa confiable (He/she is a trustworthy person)
Practice Makes Perfect
The more you practice describing people in Galician, the easier and more natural it will become. Use the vocabulary and sentence structures from this guide in your daily conversations or language learning exercises. Talkpal offers engaging exercises and AI-driven feedback to help you master these skills and become more fluent in Galician.
Conclusion
Describing people in Galician is not just about memorizing vocabulary, but also about understanding how to use grammar and expressions naturally. With consistent practice and the right resources, such as those available on the Talkpal platform, you’ll soon be able to describe anyone in detail and with confidence. Boa sorte (good luck) on your Galician language journey!
