Vocabulary for describing people

Descriptive essay is one of the most commons type of essay writing. You can write descriptive essays to
describe scenes, events, places or people.

In this entry, I will share with you a list of vocabulary you can use to describe people. When you know
these descriptive words, you will definitely improve your writing or speaking skills!

Physical Description
1. Face
1. Shape of face: oval, square, round, broad, heart-shaped, pointed, egg-shaped
2. Complexion: fair, dark, freckled, pimpled, rosy complexion, rosy cheeks
2. Eyes
 Sparkling, bright, alert, dreamy, almond-shaped, sorrowful, sunken, lustrous, bloodshot
eyes, hazel eyes, squinted
3. Hair
 Type/ Length: bald, balding, crew-cut, lustrous, frizzy, permed, shoulder length, with a
fringe, straight, thick, wiry, wavy, afro, curly, disheveled
 Colour: blonde, brunette, redhead, auburn, chestnut, jet-black, greying at the temples, a
streak of grey, strands of white hair
4. Eyebrows/ Eyelashes
 Thick, arched, fluttering, long/ bushy
5. Nose
 Big, flat, crooked, broad, aquiline, bulbous, straight, pointed, flared nostrils
6. Mouth
 Thin, thick full, ruby red, protruding, pouting mouth
7. Moustache/ Beard
 Thick/ thin, a moustache curled at its end, a goatee, clean-shaven
8. Cheeks
 Rosy, pale, sunken, dimpled, drooping
9. Build
 Man: stocky, stout, muscular well-built a bulk of a man, broad-chested, paunchy
 Woman: slim-waisted, petite, slender, plump
 Man or woman: slim, skinny, fat, obese, overweight, of average size
10. Height
 Tall, short, lanky, of average height, of medium height, towering over 180 cm