Describing People in Spanish: Using Adjectives with 'Ser'

Learning how to describe people in Spanish is a fun and essential step in your language journey. One of the most common ways to do this is by using adjectives with the verb 'ser' (to be). This combination allows you to express a person's characteristics, personality traits, and physical attributes.

Understanding 'Ser' and Adjectives

'Ser' is a very versatile verb in Spanish, used to express a variety of states and conditions. When used with adjectives, it creates a sentence that describes a noun (the person or thing being described). Here's a simple breakdown:

• Subject (the person being described): Ella (She)
• Verb (to be): es (is)
• Adjective (the characteristic): alta (tall)

Putting it together, we get: Ella es alta (She is tall).

Common Adjectives to Describe People

Here are some common Spanish adjectives used to describe people, categorized for easier learning:

Physical Appearance

English	Spanish
Tall	Alto/Alta
Short	Bajo/Baja
Thin	Delgado/Delgada
Heavy	Gordo/Gorda
Young	Joven
Old	Viejo/Vieja
Beautiful	Hermoso/Hermosa
Ugly	Feo/Fea

Personality

English	Spanish
Happy	Feliz
Sad	Triste
Friendly	Amigable
Shy	Tímido/Tímida
Funny	Gracioso/Graciosa
Smart	Inteligente
Kind	Amable
Rude	Grosero/Grosera

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to learn is through practice. Try creating sentences using the adjectives above. For example:

• Mi amigo es alto y delgado. (My friend is tall and thin.)
• La profesora es joven y amable. (The teacher is young and kind.)
• El perro es viejo y gordo. (The dog is old and fat.)

Remember the Gender Agreement

One important thing to remember in Spanish is gender agreement. Adjectives must agree in gender with the noun they describe. For example, 'alto' (tall) is used for masculine nouns, while 'alta' is used for feminine nouns.

Beyond the Basics

This guide provides a solid foundation for describing people in Spanish. As you progress, you'll encounter more complex adjectives and learn about other ways to describe characteristics. Keep practicing and you'll be describing people in Spanish like a pro in no time!