75+ Physical Adjectives in Spanish for Describing People

Approach fluency faster with a more diverse stock of physical adjectives in Spanish at your disposal! Adjectives are vital components of descriptive sentences. By using these physical adjectives in Spanish, you dramatically enhance your ability to describe the details of any individual or item. 

Why Physical Adjectives in Spanish are Important

Physical adjectives or adjetivos físicos are describing words that illustrate physical attributes or characteristics of people. You use these words when you’re telling your barber what type of haircut you want, describing your friends to your parents, or even discussing the traits of your favorite fictional characters.

Physical adjectives in Spanish also let you work around words you might not know yet. For example, if you don’t know how to say “my grandpa is almost 89 years old” in Spanish, you can say something simpler instead, like: 

Mi abuelo es viejo.
My grandpa is old. 

Want to take your description abilities a step further? Check out our Spanish Personality Vocab. Combine physical adjectives with personality traits and you will be able to describe anyone!

El pelo – Hair

Hair comes in many different lengths and colors. People use hair to express themselves and it’s an easy way to tell people apart. Here are some must-know vocab words that you should brush up on. 

Example Sentences

Ella es pelirroja.
She is a redhead. 

Quiero un pelo saludable y brillante. 
I want healthy and bright hair. 

¡Christian no tiene pelo! Es calvo.
Christian doesn’t have any hair! He is bald.

La cara – Face

The face is the foundation for a person’s looks. Your face shape is used to find the perfect haircut or glasses best suited for you. Here are some great words to describe any face type.

Examples Sentences

Su cara es larga y rondada.
His face is long and round.

Cassandra tiene una cara pecosa. 
Cassandra’s face is freckled. 

Los ojos – Eyes

People often say that eyes are the first thing they notice about a person. These two little dots tell a lot about where a person’s attention is placed and give insights into their thoughts. Are they open and focused? Or tired and droopy? Try and see if you already know any of these words.

Examples Sentences

El maestro tiene los ojos muy cansados.
The teacher has very tired eyes.

Mis ojos son marrones.
My eyes are brown.

Sus ojos son verdes y enfocados.
His/her eyes are green and focused. 

La nariz – Nose

The nose is a sort of centerpiece to the face. It helps you breathe fresh air and lets you experience the wondrous odor of home-made cookies. Describe snouts of all shapes with these physical adjectives in Spanish. 

Examples Sentences

Tengo la nariz muy recta.
I have a very straight nose.

Su nariz siempre está levantada.
Their nose is always turned-up.

Los labios – Lips

You use your lips everyday to smile, talk, or even hold onto that paper clip while you stack your essay together. Talk about different kinds of mouths with this vocab list.

Examples Sentences

Tienes labios rojos.
You have red lips.

Mis labios están secos y agrietados.
My lips are  dry and chapped.

Tipo de cuerpo – Body Shape

Now that you’ve finished with the face, it’s time to look at some physical adjectives in Spanish to describe the rest of the body. Use these figure adjectives to build a foundation for any body type.

Examples Sentences

Andrea es muy musculosa y está en forma.
Andrea is very muscular and fit.

Mi nieta necesita comer más, es demasiada flaca.
My granddaughter needs to eat more, she is too skinny.

Tu hija es baja y menuda.
Your daughter is very short and petite.

La edad – Age

Age shows your wisdom and life experience. Tell different generations apart using these vivid attributes.

Examples Sentences

Mi abuela es de la tercera edad. 
My grandmother is elderly.

Quiero ser joven otra vez.
I want to be young again.

Mis padres son de mediana edad.
My parents are middle-aged.

El espectro de atractivo – Attractiveness Spectrum

Attractiveness is more than just a person’s physical appearance. Positive personality traits are directly linked with attractiveness. Characteristics like helpfulness and honesty actually make people appear more physically attractive! 

Learn even more ways to describe people you like with our Positive Adjectives list! 

Examples Sentences

Mi tío tiene un perro feo.
My uncle has an ugly dog.

Quiero ser impresionante y hermosa como Shakira.
I want to be stunning and beautiful like Shakira.

Roberto piensa que Jasmin es bonita.
Roberto thinks Jasmin is pretty.

Putting Them All Together

Now that you’ve learned these physical adjectives in Spanish, you’re ready to start describing people! Look at these example descriptions and then create some of your own.

Example Sentences

Verónica tiene el pelo rizado y encrespado. Su cara es redonda con una nariz angosta y labios delgados. 
Veronica has curly and frizzy hair. Her face is round with a narrow nose and thin lips. 

Mateo es muy alto y guapo. Tiene una cara cuadrada con los ojos claros y el pelo negro. 
Mateo is very tall and handsome. He has a square face with bright eyes and black hair.

Maria es baja y hermosa. Es muy joven y tiene el pelo largo.
Maria is short and beautiful. She is very young and has long hair.

Create Your Own Sentences

Mi cuerpo es ___ y ____. 
My body is ___ and _____.

Mis ojos son ___ y mi pelo es ____. 
My eyes are ___ and my hair is ____. 

Tengo una nariz __ y labios ___. 
I have a  ___ nose and _____ lips.

Practice Using Physical Adjectives in Spanish with a FREE Class

Practicing vocabulary is more fun, easier, and more effective when you learn 1-on-1 with a certified, native Spanish-speaking teacher. Now that you’ve learned these new physical adjectives in Spanish, put them into use with a FREE class! Sign up today and see how quickly you’ll be speaking fluent Spanish thanks to our immersive online environment.

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Faustina Mulnik

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

As a native English speaker, I’ve spent over 6 years perfecting my Spanish. My studies have led me to major in Spanish, translate documents at a local museum, and communicate with people I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to know. I’ve studied abroad in Spain, lived in Yellowstone National Park for a summer, and volunteered in Costa Rica. I’m a passionate travel enthusiast seeking to share my love for all things Latin America.

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