UNIVERSIDAD AUTNOMA DE BUCARAMANGA

LANGUAGE INSTITUTE
ENGLISH CLASS
ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING
APPEARANCE
(APARIENCIA)

ADJECTIVES FOR DESCRIBING

ESCRIBING
PERSONALITY
(PERSONALIDAD)

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING FEELINGS
(SENTIMIENTOS)

adorable (adorable)

aggressive (agresivo)

afraid (asustado)

attractive (atractivo)

ambitious (ambicioso)

angry (enfadado/bravo)

alluring (seductor / atrayente) amused (entretenido)

anxious (ansioso)

beautiful (hermoso)

bad (malo)

brave (valiente)

bewildered (desconcertado, perplejo) bright (brillante)

bored/boring (aburrido/aburridor)

confident (seguro)

cruel (cruel)

calm (calmado/tranquilo)

cheerful (alegre)

combative (combativo)

confused (confundido)

cultured (culto)

cooperative (cooperativo, de cooperar)

comfortable (comodo)

clumsy (torpe, tosco)

coward (cobarde)

creepy (espeluznante)

drab (gris, montono)

dangerous (peligroso)

depressed (deprimido)

dull (apagado, sin brillo, feo)

diligent (diligente, eficiente)

disturbed (trastornado)

dynamic (dinmico)

determined (determinado)

dominating (dominante)

disillusioned (desilusionado)

disagreeable (desagradable)

deceitful (engaoso)

elegant (elegante)

evil (malvado)

envious (envidioso)

fair (justo)

frank (franco, sincero)

faithful (fiel)

filthy (sucio)

fearless (sin miedo, temerario)

fine (estar bien)

gentle (amable)

generous (generoso)

good (bueno)

glamorous (glamoroso)

gifted (talentoso, dotado)

grieving (afligido/sufriendo)

handsome (simptico)

helpful (colaborador)

horrible (horrible)

homely (casero, familiar)

harmonious (armonioso)

happy (feliz)

hurt (herido)

hesitant (dubitativo)

hungry (hambriento)

ill-mannered (mal educado)

instinctive (institivo)

ill (enfermo)

jolly (muy alegre)

jealous (celoso)

jovial (alegre, jovial)

kind-hearted (de buen corazn) knowledgeable (culto, informado, entendido)

kind (amable)

lovely (adorable)

loner (solitario)

lively (animado / alegre)

magnificent (magnificente)

mysterious (misterioso)

mature (maduro)

nervous (nervioso)

naughty (malo, travieso, pcaro)

nice (chvere)

pleasant (agradable)

pleasing (complaciente)

proud (orgulloso)

perfect (perfecto)

placid (placido)

peaceful (pacfico)

plucky (valiente, corajudo)

punctual (puntual)

protective (protector)

smiling (sonriente)

successful (exitoso)

sorrowful (apesadumbrado)

splendid (esplendido)

sedate (reposado, tranquilo, sobrio : serio)

silly (torpe/bobo)

self-assured(seguro de s mismo) sincere (sincero)

somber (sombro/triste)

snobbish (snob)

selfish (egosta)

sore (adolorido)

thoughtful (pensante)

talented (talentoso)

tired (cansado)

tense (tenso)

thrifty (econmico, ahorrativo)

troubled (emproblemado)

timid (timido)

truculent (malhumorado y agresivo)

testy (hosco, irritable)

upset (disgustado,ofendido)

unbiased (objetivo: neutral)

unwell (indispuesto/enfermo)

vivacious (vivz,lleno de vida)

voracious (vorz)

vengeful (vengativo)

wonderful (maravilloso)

witty (ingenioso, con chispa, agudo)

wicked (malvado)

worried (preocupado)

wise (sabio)

weary (cansado)

wild (salvaje)

warm (clido)

wrong (equivocado)

zaftig (rellenita y curvilnea)

zany (chiflado, alocado, estrafalario)

zestful (entusiasta)

eg- What an adorable baby!

(Qu bebe tan adorable!).

eg- He was a brave knight (l fue un caballero

valiente).

eg- She was in

a jovial mood (Ella estaba
de un nimo jovial).

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING SHAPE
(FORMA)

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING SIZE
(TAMAO)

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING TIME
(TIEMPO)

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING QUANTITY
(CANTIDAD)

broad (amplio)

big (grande)

ancient (antiguo)

abundant (abundante)

crooked (torcido, encorvado)

colossal (colosal)

annual (anual)

bountiful ( abundante)

circular (circular)

great (grandioso)

brief (breve, corto)

cumbersome (pesado)

distorted (distorsionado)

gigantic (gigante)

early (temprano)

empty (vacio)

flat (plano)

huge (enorme)

fast (rpido)

extra (extra)

hollow (hueco)

large (grande)

late (tarde)

few (poco)

narrow (estrecho)

miniature (miniatura)

modern (moderno)

heavy (pesado)

round (redondo)

mammoth (colosal)

old (viejo)

myriad (millares, millones)

square (cuadrado)

petite (pequeo)

rapid (veloz)

many (muchos)

skinny (flaco, huesudo)

tall (alto)

swift (rpido, veloz)

multiple (multiples)

steep (empinado, en picada)

thin (delgado)

slow (lento)

numerous (numerosos)

wide (ancho)

tiny (diminuto)

young (joven)

substantial (considerable,
importante)

eg- A skinny boy

eg- A miniature train

egAn ancient manuscript

eg- Myriad stars

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING SOUND
(SONIDOS)

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING TASTE
(GUSTO SABOR)

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING TOUCH
(TCTO)

ADJECTIVES FOR
DESCRIBING COLOR
(COLOR)

blaring (retumbante,abrumador) bitter (amargo)

hard (duro)

azure (azul celeste)

cooing (susurrante, arruyador)

delicious (delicioso)

loose (suelto, flojo)

aqua (aguamarina)

deafening (ensordecedor)

fresh (fresco)

rough (spero)

blue (azul)

loud (fuerte, alto)

hot (caliente)

smooth (liso)

black (negro)

melancholic (melancolico)

icy (helado, muy frio)

slippery (resbaloso)

crimson (rojo carmes)

noisy (ruidoso)

juicy (jugoso)

sticky (pegajoso)

cyan (verde azulado)

soft (suave)

spicy (picante)

sharp (afilado)

gold (oro, dorado)

shrill (agudo, chilln)

sweet (dulce)

scattered (disperso)

green (verde)

squeaking (crujiente, chillon)

sour (agrio, cido)

soft (suave)

magenta (+ - = fuxia)

silent (silencioso)

salty (salado)

tender (tierno, fresco)

orange (naranja)

thundering (estruendoso)

tasty
(sabroso,apetitoso)

uneven (desigual)

pink (rosado)

whispering (susurrado)

tasteless (sin sabor)

wet (mojado)

turquoise (azul turquesa)

eg- blaring loud speaker

eg- delicious pastry

eg- rough surface

eg- green diamond

Describing people

Height

Build

tall, tallish, short, shortish,

medium height

Age

frail, stocky, slim, thin, plump, fat,

skinny, well-built

Face

Eyes

round, oval, square, with scares,

wrinkles, freckles, sun-tanned,
pale

young, elderly, middle-aged,

teenager, in 20s, 30s, 40s

Hair

big round blue eyes,

large, small, bright,
narrow

Clothes
casual, scruffy,
shabby, smart, tidy,
messy

bald, straight,
curly, spiky, wavy

Describing Character - What's he like? Is she nice?

careful, hardworking, worried,
cheerful,
broadminded,
active, curious,
secretive

aggressive, tough,
careless, practical,
sensible,
independent,
strong-minded,
stupid

dull, boring,
imaginative,
ambitious, crafty,
sensitive, gentle,
naive

generous, loyal,
self-controlled,
moody, trusting,
modest,
tolerant, friendly

energetic,
confident,
selfish, shy,
stubborn,
reliable, clumsy,
intelligent

Adjectives can be classified into many categories

In English, adjectives are generally used in this order:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
quantity opinion size age shape color origin material purpose.
Example of the Sequence of Multiple Adjectives in Chart Form:
QUANTITY

OPINION

five

SIZE

AGE

SHAPE

huge young

COLOR ORIGIN MATERIAL PURPOSE NOUN

black

Canadian

battered

old

many

magnificent

antique

British

one

studious

teenaged

American

boy

few

shiny

round

Indian

gems

many

well-made tiny

elongated brown

several

cheap

large

shapeless gray

bears

blue

purple

cotton

work

pants

reference books

wooden

fishing

polyester

sleeping bags

quantity - few, no, one, two, three, four, several, many, all, some, every, each, ...

boats

opinion - good, better, best, bad, worse, worst, mediocre, awful, fantastic, pretty, ugly, clean, dirty,
wasteful, difficult, comfortable, valuable, worthless, useful, useless, important, evil, angelic, rare,
scarce, poor, rich, lovely, disgusting, amazing, surprising, loathesome, unusual, usual, pointless, ...

personality/emotion - happy, sad, excited, scared, frightened, outgoing, funny, sad, zany, grumpy,
cheerful, jolly, carefree, quick-witted, blissful, lonely, elated, ...

sound - loud, soft, silent, vociferous, screaming, shouting, thunderous, blaring, quiet, noisy, talkative,
rowdy, deafening, faint, muffled, mute, speechless, whispered, hushed, ...

taste - sweet, sour, acidic, bitter, salty, tasty, delicious, savory, delectable, yummy, bland, tasteless,
palatable, yummy, luscious, appetizing, tasteless, spicy, watery, ...

touch - hard, soft, silky, velvety, bumpy, smooth, grainy, coarse, pitted, irregular, scaly, polished,
glossy, lumpy, wiry, scratchy, rough, glassy, ...

size, weight - heavy, light, big, small, tiny, tall, short, fat, thin, slender, willowy, lean, svelte, scrawny,
skeletal, underweight, lanky, wide, enormous, huge, vast, great, gigantic, monstrous, mountainous,
jumbo, wee, dense, weighty, slim, trim, hulking, hefty, giant, plump, tubby, obese, portly, ...

smell - perfumed, acrid, putrid, burnt, smelly, reeking, noxious, pungent, aromatic, fragrant, scented,
musty, sweet-smelling,...

speed - quick, fast, slow, speeding, rushing, bustling, rapid, snappy, whirlwind, swift, hasty, prompt,
brief, ...

temperature - hot, cold, freezing, icy, frigid, sweltering, wintry, frosty, frozen, nippy, chilly, sizzling,
scalding, burning, feverish, fiery, steaming, ...

age - young, old, baby, babyish, teenage, ancient, antique, old-fashioned, youthful, elderly, mature,
adolescent, infantile, bygone, recent, modern, ...

distance - short, long, far, distant, nearby, close, faraway, outlying, remote, far-flung, neighboring,
handy, ...

shape - round, circular, square, triangular, oval, sleek, blobby, flat, rotund, globular, spherical, wavy,
straight, cylindrical, oblong, elliptical, zigzag, squiggly, crooked, winding, serpentine, warped, distorted,
...

miscellaneous qualities- full, empty, wet, dry, open, closed , ornate, ...

brightness - light, dark, bright, shadowy, drab, radiant, shining, pale, dull, glowing, shimmering,
luminous, gleaming, ...

color - pink, red, orange, yellowish, dark-green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, brown, tanned, pastel,

time - early, late, morning, night, evening, everlasting, initial, first, last, overdue, belated, long-term,
delayed, punctual, ...

origin/location - lunar, northern, oceanic, polar, equatorial, Floridian, American, Spanish, Canadian,
Mexican, French, Irish, English, Australian, ...

material - glass, wooden, cloth, concrete, fabric, cotton, plastic, leather, ceramic, china, metal, steel, ...

purpose - folding, swinging, work, racing, cooking, sleeping, dance, rolling, walking, ...

Noun
Square
rectangle
triangle
ellipse
semicircle
circle
cube

Adjective
square
rectangular
triangular
elliptical
semicircular
circular
cubic

pyramid
cone
hemisphere
cylinder

pyramidal
conical
hemispherical
cylindrical

Adjective
long
high
wide
broad
deep

Noun
length
height
width
breadth
depth

A Paragraph to Describe Objects

A paragraph to describe objects consists of 5 parts as follows:
1. Function/ Use
2. Components/ Parts
3. Characteristics
material
shape/ figure
dimensions
property
colour
Property
Property is a special quality that belongs to the object.
The interior of a ping-pong ball is hollow.
This book is thick.
The glass bottle is fragile.
The edge of a table is straight.
The sides of a car are flat.
The middle of a bottle is curved.
Examples of a Paragraph to Describe Objects
A mixer is used for mixing food. The mixer is made of metal and plastic. It consists of 5 parts: a base, a
stand, a motor housing, beaters, and a bowl. The base is rectangular in shape. It is 12 cm wide and 15 cm
long. The stand which is supported by the base is 30 cm in height. The motor housing which contains a
motor is joined to the stand. The steel beaters are very hard and tough. They are fitted in the gearbox. The
glass bowl is hard and brittle. The edge of the bowl is circular. The glass bowl is detached from the base.
A kettle is a metal container which is used for boiling water. It consists of 4 main parts: a vessel, a lid, a
spout, and a handle. The vessel is 7 inches high. It is hollow and spherical in shape. The base is flat and
circular. It has a diameter of 6 inches. On the top of the vessel, there is a convex lid with a plastic knob in
the middle. The lid is 5 inches in diameter. Above the lid is as curved handle which is covered with plastic at
the middle part. At the side of the vessel is a conical spout for pouring water out of the vessel.
A vacuum bottle is a container which is used to keep liquids either hot or cold. It is composed of a metal
container, a glass bottle, a plastic cap, a cork, and a shock absorber. This vacuum bottle is 25 inches in

height. The outer part of the bottle consists of a metal container and a plastic cap. The container is
cylindrical in shape. Its base is flat and circular. It has a diameter of 10 inches. The cap is at the top of the
container. Inside the container, there is a cylindrical glass bottle with a tapering neck and a cork at the top.
The glass bottle is supported by a spiral shock absorber which is fixed to the base of the container. It has 2
walls: the inner and the outer. Between these walls, there is a vacuum to keep the liquid at a constant
temperature.
spiral (adj.) = cycling around a single point

DESCRIBING PEOPLE
attractive

atractivo

beautiful

hermoso

good-looking

guapo

handsome

guapo (para hombres)

old

viejo

pale

plido

plain

poco atractivo

pretty

bonito (para mujeres)

tanned

bronceado

ugly

feo

unattractive

poco atractivo

young

joven

baby-faced

con cara de beb

fresh-faced

con cara fresca, joven

pasty-faced

con cara plida

round-faced
stone-faced

con cara redonda

con cara de piedra (que no muestra
emociones)

thin-faced

con cara delgada

short

bajo

medium height

de estatura media

tall

alto

tiny

pequeo

average build

de constitucin media

fat

gordo (despectivo)

muscular

musculoso

obese

obeso

overweight

gordo, excedido de peso

plump

regordete

skinny

flaco

slender

esbelto

slim

delgado

stocky

corpulento

stout

corpulento

thin

flaco

well-built

fornido

elegant

elegante

scruffy

desaliado

smart

elegante

untidy-looking

desaliado

well-dressed

bien vestido

short/long hair

cabello corto/largo

straight hair

cabello lacio

curly hair

cabello rizado

dark/light hair

cabello oscuro/claro

black hair

cabello negro

blond/fair hair

cabello rubio

brown hair

cabello castao

grey hair

cabello con algunas canas

white hair

canas

redhead

pelirrojo

receding hair

entradas (en el cabello)

bald

calvo

braid

trenza

bun

rodete

ponytail

cola (en el cabello)

beard

barba

birthmark

marca de nacimiento

braces

aparato de ortodoncia

freckle

peca

mole

lunar

moustache

bigote

scar

cicatriz

sideboards (GB),
sideburns (US)

patillas

tattoo

tatuaje

wart

verruga

wrinkle

arruga

PERSONALITY - Negative aspect

absent-minded

distrado, despistado

aggressive

agresivo

annoying

molesto

arrogant

arrogante, prepotente

bad-tempered

malhumorado

boastful

fanfarrn

bossy

mandn

cheeky

atrevido

clumsy

torpe

deceitful

falso

dishonest

deshonesto

disrespectful

irrespetuoso

dominant

dominante

dull = boring

aburrido

eccentric

excntrico

envious

envidioso

forgetful

olvidadizo

frivolous

frvolo

fussy

quisquilloso

hypocritical

hipcrita

impatient

impaciente

impulsive

impulsivo

indifferent

indiferente

insecure

inseguro

insensitive

insensible

insolent

insolente

introverted

introvertido

irascible

irascible

irresponsible

irresponsable

jealous

celoso

lazy

haragn

lonely

solitario

materialistic

materialista

mean = cruel

cruel

mean = stingy, tight-fisted

mezquino

modest

modesto

moody

malhumorado

nosey

metido

obsessed

obsesionado

pessimistic

pesimista

proud = arrogant

orgulloso

quarrelsome

pendenciero

querulous

quejumbroso

resentful

rencoroso

rude = impolite

descorts

selfish

egosta

self-seeking

interesado

shy

tmido

spiteful

rencoroso

strict

estricto

stubborn = obstinate

obstinado

talkative

charlatn

unpredictable

impredecible

unreliable = untrustworthy

desconfiable

unsympathetic

aptico

vain = conceited

vanidoso

weak

dbil

PERSONALITY - Positive aspect

ambitious

ambicioso

attentive

corts

audacious

audaz

calm

calmo

charming

encantador

cheerful = amusing

divertido

considerate

considerado

courageous = brave

valiente

creative

creativo

curious

curioso

determined = b-willed

decidido

energetic

energtico

extroverted

extrovertido

frank

franco

friendly

amigable

generous

generoso

gentle = kind, polite

amable

honest = truthful

honesto

humble

humilde

ingenious

ingenioso

likable / likeable

agradable, simptico

loyal = faithful

leal

mature

maduro

obedient

obediente

optimistic

optimista

organized

organizado

passionate

apasionado

patient

paciente

polite

amable

practical

prctico

realistic

realista

reliable = trustworthy

confiable

respectful

respetuoso

responsible

responsable

self-confident

seguro

sensible

sensato

sensitive

sensible

sincere

sincero

sociable = outgoing

sociable

strong

fuerte

sympathetic

compasivo

thankful = grateful

agradecido

tolerant = patient

paciente

understanding

comprensivo

zealous

entusiasta