English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Unit 5: Describing people
Tom Jakes is quite short.
If you aren’t tall or short, you are of medium height.
Agata Sanchez is really slim.
I was very thin when I was in hospital. [slim is more polite than thin]
The doctor said I am overweight. [weigh too much]
Their cat is very fat. It needs to go on a diet.
Polly has blonde (or fair) hair and fair skin. She has blue eyes.
Ben has a beard and long hair. He has green eyes.
Luca has a moustache /mυˈstɑːʃ/ and short hair.
You can also use has got, for example, Suri has got dark hair and dark skin.
My mother is a very beautiful woman. [very pretty]
My dad’s a very good-looking man.
People are tall [NOT People are high].
People have blonde or dark hair [NOT hairs].
My sister is pretty. (usually girls / women only)
Bob’s an ugly man. [ugly = the opposite of beautiful or good-looking]
I’m not ugly or beautiful, I’m just average-looking!
My grandmother is 97. She’s very old. My sister is 14. She’s young, but would like to be older. My father is 56.
He’s middle-aged, but would like to be younger!
This hospital is for elderly people. (more polite than old)
A: How tall is Bettina / Tom?
B: She’s 1.85 metres tall. / He’s 1.48 metres tall.
A: How heavy are you? / How much do you weigh?
B: I weigh 62 kilos / 74 kilos, etc.
A: How old is he?
B: He’s 84.
A: What does Gemma / your sister look like?
B: She’s tall and dark. She’s very pretty.
Some of the words on this page are a little negative, so be careful how you use them. It’s better not to say to someone: ‘You are fat / thin / ugly / old.’
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for pre-intermediate and intermediate level (B1) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for Upper-intermediate level (B2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.