When we talk about people, we often use descriptive words. These words help us show how someone looks, acts, or what their personality is like. Using the right descriptive words makes your English more clear and interesting. In this lesson, you will learn many useful words that you can use to describe people in daily life.
What are Descriptive Words?
Descriptive words are words that tell us more details about a person. They can describe:
- Appearance → how someone looks
- Personality → how someone behaves
- Feelings → how someone is feeling
Example: Sam is kind and always helps his friends.
Contexts of Descriptive Words
Descriptive words are used in different contexts:
- Appearance → She has long hair and a bright smile.
- Personality → My teacher is very patient with students.
- Emotions → He felt nervous before the exam.
List of Descriptive Words with Meanings
Here is a complete list of common descriptive words you can use to describe people.
1. Words for Personality
Word | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Kind | Helpful and caring | Sara is kind to everyone. |
Friendly | Easy to talk to | John is very friendly. |
Honest | Always tells the truth | She is honest about her work. |
Polite | Shows respect and manners | He is polite to his teachers. |
Brave | Not afraid, strong in danger | The soldier is brave. |
Clever | Smart and quick to understand | My brother is clever at solving puzzles. |
Lazy | Does not like working | He is lazy in the morning. |
Hardworking | Works with energy and effort | She is hardworking in her studies. |
2. Words for Appearance
Word | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Tall | Having great height | My uncle is tall. |
Short | Having small height | The boy is short. |
Beautiful | Very nice to look at | She is a beautiful girl. |
Handsome | Good-looking (for men) | He is a handsome actor. |
Slim | Thin and healthy-looking | My friend is slim. |
Fat | Having more body weight | The cat is fat. |
Strong | Having power and muscles | He is a strong man. |
Weak | Having little strength | The old man is weak. |
3. Words for Feelings / Emotions
Word | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Happy | Feeling good and glad | She is happy today. |
Sad | Feeling unhappy | He looks sad after the game. |
Angry | Feeling mad or upset | The teacher was angry. |
Nervous | Worried or afraid | I felt nervous before my speech. |
Excited | Full of joy and energy | The children are excited for the trip. |
Tired | Having no energy | He is tired after work. |
Calm | Peaceful and quiet | She stayed calm during the test. |
Confident | Sure about yourself | He is confident in his answer. |
Descriptive words are very useful in English. They make your speaking and writing more interesting and clear. By learning these words, you can easily describe people in terms of their appearance, personality, and feelings.

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FAQs
Q1: What are descriptive words to describe people?
A: Descriptive words are words that tell more details about a person’s appearance, personality, or feelings. Example: kind, tall, happy.
Q2: How do you describe a person in simple words?
A: You can describe a person by using words for their looks (tall, slim, beautiful), personality (kind, polite, hardworking), or emotions (happy, sad, nervous).
Q3: What are some common descriptive words for personality?
A: Common personality words include: kind, honest, friendly, brave, clever, lazy, hardworking.
Q5: Why are descriptive words important in English?
A: Descriptive words make your speaking and writing clear, interesting, and detailed. They help you explain people better in daily conversations.