How to describe a

person | Using
descriptive words
In The Prince and the Pauper, Mark Twain paints a word picture of King Henry
VIII using descriptive language:

Before him, at a little distance, reclined a very large and very fat man, with a wide,
pulpy face, and a stern expression. His large head was very grey; and his whiskers,
which he wore only around his face, like a frame, were grey also. His clothing was
of rich stuff, but old, and slightly frayed in places. One of his swollen legs had a
pillow under it, and was wrapped in bandages. This stern-countenanced invalid was
the dread Henry VIII.
The Bronze Bow

Elizabeth George Speare describes a young Roman soldier:

When he straightened again, the Roman was pulling off his helmet, revealing
crisp fair hair. He wiped the back of his hand across his wet forehead where
the metal had left an uncomfortable-looking crease. With a shock, Daniel saw
that he was very young… The beardless cheeks and chin scarcely needed a
razor. His skin was white, mottled and peeling from exposure to the sun, so
that he could not have seen service long under the Galilean skies. The eyes
that stared back at Daniel were a clear bright blue. He looked as though he
might be about to speak.
Using Descriptive Speaking Tools:
a) How to Describe a Person:

Face Shape:
•Square
•Oval
•Round
•Triangular
•Heart-shaped
•Thin
•Wide
•Chiselled
Skin and Complexion:
Complexion is the natural appearance and color of the skin, especially of the
face. For example, “Mary has a soft, creamy complexion.”

•Wrinkled: covered with lines or loose folds of skin; often associated with age 
•Freckled: sprinkled or covered with light brown spots 
•Ruddy: skin that has a reddish tint; may have the appearance of sunburn 
•Sallow: skin that has a yellowish tint; may be associated with illness
•Tanned: skin with a warm, golden-brown tint
•Rosy or fresh-faced: pink-cheeked, fair complexion that glows with a hint of pink 
•Other skin-related adjectives: pale, fair, spotless, silky, smooth, creamy, dewy,
baby-soft, peaches-and-cream, glowing, paper-thin or translucent (as with a very
old person), sunburned, peeling, rough, callused, weathered, weather-beaten,
craggy, leathery, mottled, dry, brown, dark
Eyes:
TIP: Pay attention to the eyes, as they often reveal much about a
person.
 Shape, size, and appearance: large, small, almond-shaped,
round, squinty, crinkly, bulging, heavy-lidded, hooded, deep-set,
close-set, hollow, tear-filled
 Eye colour: black, brown, hazel, green, blue, violet, gray, amber
 Eye expressions: piercing, mesmerizing, sad, sorrowful,
haunted, gentle, sympathetic, warm, compassionate, expressive,
bright, twinkling, lively, dancing, laughing, shifty, sly,
distrusting, sleepy
 Other: brown-eyed boy, bright-eyed sister, wide-eyed child, gold-
flecked eyes
Mouth and Lips

•Lip shape and size: thin, full, pouting, rosebud (baby’s

lips, often), pursed (puckered up, as when concentrating)
•Mouth expressions: laugh, smile, beam, grin, frown,
grimace, scowl, sneer, curl, pout
•Adjectives describing the mouth or mouth expressions:
toothy, toothless, gap-toothed, kind, sweet, dimpled,
relaxed, firm, serious, cruel, snarling
 Hair:

• Hair color: black, brunette, brown, chestnut-brown, blond, honey-

blond, golden-blond, ash-blond, fair, cornsilk, auburn, red, strawberry-
blond, gray, silver, white, salt-and-pepper
•Texture or appearance: wispy, fuzzy, wavy, curly, kinky, frizzy, wild,
untamed, unmanageable, straight, spiky, stiff, buzzed, shaved, parted,
neatly-combed, tamed, cascading, long, short, cropped, dull, shiny
•Hair styles: braids, ponytail, pigtails, bun, messy bun, twist, bob, ringlets,
flip, cornrows, extensions, bangs, buzz, layered, feathered, chopped,
gelled, spiked, slicked down
•Lots of hair: thick, full, lustrous, bushy, coarse, wiry, stiff
•Little hair: thin, scraggly, fine, baby-fine, downy, wispy, limp, flat,
balding, bald, bald spot, receding (gradual loss of hair at the front of the
head)
•Treated hair: permed, dyed, bleached, highlighted, weaved, streaked,
colored
Facial Hair
•Hair: beard, goatee, moustache, soul patch, sideburns
•Beard growth: stubble, fuzz, peach fuzz, bristles, five o’clock shadow (describes
new beard growth that’s shadowy in appearance. It’s usually more noticeable late
in the day on the jaw, chin, or cheek area, but some men purposely grow five
o’clock shadows.) 
•Adjectives: bearded, bushy, stubbly, bristly, scratchy, unshaven, shaggy,
whiskered, beardless, clean-shaven, smooth, trimmed, neatly-trimmed, pencil-thin

Body 
TIP: Choose strong verbs and adjectives.
•Build: small, slim, slight, thin, lean, willowy, skinny, angular, bony, fine-boned,
chunky, chubby, large, portly, plump, round, stout, pudgy, full-figured, ample, broad-
shouldered, burly, solid, muscular
•Posture: stand, sit, slouch, flop, lean, recline, rest, stretch, sprawl, curl up, roost,
squirm, arch, slump, stoop, bend, hunch, scoot, walk, run, race, jog
 Clothing
• Fabric: denim, twill, wool, cashmere, cotton, linen, seersucker, gingham, lace, chiffon, tulle, velvet,
velveteen, fleece, flannel, tweed, polyester, jersey, corduroy, spandex, leather
•Bottoms: jeans, skinny jeans, cargo pants, flat-front pants, pleated pants, slacks, trousers, overalls,
sweatpants, crop pants, capris, skirt, shorts, board shorts
•Tops: sport shirt, dress shirt, polo shirt, button-down shirt, tank top, blouse, tunic, long-sleeve, short-
sleeve, sleeveless, collared, T-shirt, V-neck, scoop-neck, turtleneck, sweatshirt, hoodie, pullover, sweater,
cardigan, sweater set
•Other clothing: dress, gown, frock, uniform, coveralls, costume, pajamas, bathrobe, robe, vest, jacket,
blazer, coat, apron
•Footwear: socks, stockings, shoes, slippers, sandals, flip-flops, loafers, heels, pumps, boots, ankle boots,
riding boots, slouch boots, athletic shoes, sneakers, tennis shoes, gym shoes, runners
•Accessories: mittens, gloves, hat, cap, head wrap, bandana, scarf, muffler, necklace, choker, bracelet, ring,
earrings, cuffs, cufflinks, purse, clutch, bag, tote, sunglasses, eyeglasses, glasses
•Adjectives (appearance): stylish, natty, smart, chic, classy, elegant, polished, draped, flowing, sheer,
casual, relaxed, carefree, starched, crisp, sharp, dressy, lacy, shiny, shimmering, sparkling, glittery, sloppy,
torn, ripped, tattered, disheveled, slovenly, tacky, unkempt, faded, scratchy, worn, frayed, nubby, rough,
smooth, pliable, warm, soft, quilted, knit
•Adjectives (patterns): striped, solid, plaid, checked, floral print, geometric print
Sentence Starters Describing Clothes 

Smartly dressed in (name of garment), the woman …

•Casually attired in (name of garment), Chloe …
•Simply clad in (name of garment), Mark …
•Uncle Max sported a (name of garment) …
•Wearing a (name of garment), the detective …

There are so many ways to describe people! What

other words would you include?
Describing a Place: Choosing Vocabulary

“Descriptive speech is an art form. It’s

painting a word picture so that the listener
‘sees’ exactly what you are describing.”
 Describing a Place

Master storyteller Charles Dickens was also a master of using description to create
a mood.
It was a town of machinery and tall chimneys, out of which interminable serpents of
smoke trailed themselves for ever and ever, and never got uncoiled. It had a black
canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye, arid vast piles of building
full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where
the piston of the steam-engine worked monotonously up and down, like the head of
an elephant in a state of melancholy madness. ~Charles Dickens, Hard Times

“Moist and salty, a chilly breeze blows in across the swells, bringing with it the
pungent smells of seaweed and fish and making me pull my jacket a little closer. Sea
spray transforms into fiery prisms as the waves splash against the shore, catching the
last golden rays of sun, and tossing them up like liquid crystals.”
Finding Vocabulary for Describing a Place

• landscape
• features
• climate
• plants
• animals
• description

If you want to describe a city then:

•Describe city sights

•Describe Chicago, Sydney or Karachi, etc.
•Describe downtown
Some Adjectives

Desert: harsh, dry, arid, sparse, severe, hot

Rock: sharp, rough, jagged, angular
Grasses: windblown, bent, dry, pale green, brown
Sand: coarse, fine, glittering, shifting, rippling, sifting,
white, golden
Sky: pale, intense, cloudless, azure, purple, crimson
Cactus: tall, short, squatty, spiny, prickly, thorny
Date palm: tall, bent, leather (leaves), frayed (leaves)
Some City Adjectives

City: active, bustling, noisy, busy, clean, dirty, windy

Traffic: loud, congested, snarled
Buildings: old, shabby, rundown, crumbling,  modern, futuristic, sleek, towering, squat
Buildings (walls): brick, stone, marble, glass, steel, graffiti-covered
Monuments, statues: stone, copper, carved, ancient, moss-covered, faded, green, bronze
Sidewalk: concrete, cement, slick, cracked, tidy, littered, swept
Paint: fresh, weathered, peeling
Signs: neon, weathered, worn, bright, welcoming, flashing
Buses, cars, taxis: belching, crawling, speeding, honking, waiting, screeching
People: hurried, bundled, smiling, frowning, eager, rushed
Describing a food: The
good, the bad, and the ugly
 Colour, shape, and size
 Texture (how it looks and how it feels to the touch)
 Sound
 Smell
 For a food, also add questions about its taste and
feel when eaten
Use appetizing words like simmering, hearty, robust,
browned, and spicy etc.

“The cake looked like a homespun masterpiece.  It was fluffy

as a pillow, toasty brown, and shot through with plum-
coloured swirls.”---

“This cream of mushroom soup hasn’t lost one jot of its

butter-laden, cognac-kissed suavity. “Soup” is too prosaic a
term for the pungent, earthy silkiness in every bowlful. Fungi
beg for the honour of giving their lives this way.”---
Plump shrimp, sautéed with chilli flakes and served
with a salad of oyster mushrooms, cucumber and corn,
turned out to be everything I wanted on a Saturday
morning: fresh, vibrant and crunchy, with just enough
spicy zing to wake me up.

Broiling a nice juicy steak until it spatters and hisses

and crusts up in all the right places is wonderful.
Roasting a chicken and seeing the skin crisp up in the
oven while the meat goes tender beneath is lovely, too.
And most of the ills in the world can be cured with a few
savoury pork-stuffed dumplings, dripping broth and
juice.
 The Bad Food

“Some people don’t like tomatoes. To me, a good tomato is ripe,

sweet, and juicy. But if it’s “slimy, jellylike substance around the
seeds, thin skin, [and] grainy pulp” it would send some people
running away from this horrible salad staple.” ---

“Stay calm when faced with a half-dozen to a dozen barnacled,

irregular and slimy oysters set on your party’s table. If you’re an
oyster eating novice, attempt to suppress the look of horror at
not only the aesthetics of the shellfish, but how you’re going to
manage extracting the oysters from their watery home.”---

“Imagine an English muffin soaked in artificial butter oil,

toasted, assembled with a spongy egg-like substance, cheese whiz
or something, and a sausage puck. Now, wait a few hours,
microwave until completely indestructible, and serve to an
unsuspecting consumer. It was malevolently bad.” ---
 . . Prune pits, peach pits, orange peels,
Gloppy glums of cold oatmeal,
Pizza crusts and withered greens,
Soggy beans, and tangerines,
Shel Silverstein Crusts of black-burned buttered toast,
Grisly bits of beefy roast.
Poem “Sarah The garbage rolled on down the halls,
Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take It raised the roof, it broke the walls,
the Garbage Out I mean, greasy napkins, cookie crumbs,
Blobs of gooey bubble gum,
Cellophane from old bologna,
Rubbery, blubbery macaroni,
Peanut butter, caked and dry,
Curdled milk, and crusts of pie,
Rotting melons, dried-up mustard,
Eggshells mixed with lemon custard,
Cold French fries and rancid meat,
Yellow lumps of Cream of Wheat. . .