Common French Vocabulary for Physical Appearance
Describing Height and Build
- Grand(e) – Tall
- Petit(e) – Short
- De taille moyenne – Of average height
- Minces / Maigre – Slim / Thin
- Rond(e) / Enrobé(e) – Chubby / Plump
- Musclé(e) – Muscular
- Fort(e) – Strong / Big-built
Describing Hair
- Les cheveux – Hair
- Longs / Courts – Long / Short
- Bouclés / Raides / Ondulés – Curly / Straight / Wavy
- Blonds / Bruns / Noirs / Roux / Châtains – Blonde / Brown / Black / Red / Chestnut
- Une frange – Bangs
- Une queue de cheval – Ponytail
- Une tresse – Braid
Describing Eyes
- Les yeux – Eyes
- Bleus / Verts / Marron / Noisette – Blue / Green / Brown / Hazel
- Grands / Petits – Big / Small
- En amande – Almond-shaped
Describing Skin Tone
- La peau – Skin
- Claire / Pâle – Fair / Pale
- Mate – Olive / Tanned
- Foncée – Dark
Key Adjectives for Facial Features
- Un visage rond / ovale / carré – A round / oval / square face
- Un grand nez / un petit nez – A big nose / a small nose
- Une bouche fine / pulpeuse – Thin / full lips
- Des dents blanches – White teeth
- Des taches de rousseur – Freckles
- Une barbe / Une moustache – Beard / Moustache
How to Structure Sentences When Describing Appearance
In French, adjectives usually agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. For example, “Elle est grande” (She is tall), “Il a les yeux bleus” (He has blue eyes). Here are some key sentence structures:
- Il/Elle est + adjective (for general descriptions): Elle est mince. (She is slim.)
- Il/Elle a + noun + adjective (for specific features): Il a les cheveux courts. (He has short hair.)
- Ses yeux sont + adjective: Ses yeux sont verts. (Her eyes are green.)
Useful Phrases for Everyday Conversations
- Comment est-elle ? – What does she look like?
- À quoi ressemble-t-il ? – What does he look like?
- Il/Elle a l’air sportif(ve). – He/She looks sporty.
- Il/Elle porte des lunettes. – He/She wears glasses.
Tips for Practicing Descriptions in French
To improve your fluency, try these effective techniques:
- Practice describing people in photos or movies using the vocabulary above.
- Exchange descriptions with a language partner or AI tutor on platforms like Talkpal.
- Write short paragraphs about family members or celebrities.
- Pay attention to adjective agreement and word order.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to make adjectives agree in gender and number (e.g., “Elle est petit” should be “Elle est petite”).
- Confusing “avoir” and “être” when describing features (e.g., “Il est les yeux bleus” is incorrect; it should be “Il a les yeux bleus”).
- Mixing up hair and eye color adjectives. Remember: “cheveux” and “yeux” are both masculine plural, so use “bruns,” “noirs,” “verts,” etc.
Practice Makes Perfect
Describing physical appearance is a practical and fun way to boost your French skills. With regular practice and the right resources like those offered by Talkpal, you’ll soon be able to confidently talk about yourself and others in French. Remember to pay attention to adjective agreement, expand your vocabulary, and most importantly, keep practicing. Bonne chance!
