We use the verbs ser (to be), tener (to have) and llevar (here, to wear) to describe what people look like in Spanish.

Take a look at these examples:

Es alto (tall), bajo (short), feo (ugly), guapo (handsome), delgado (thin), gordo (fat), tonto (stupid), inteligente (intelligent), simpático (friendly), rubio (blond), pelirrojo (red-haired).

Tiene los ojos azules (blue eyes), el pelo corto (short hair), bigote (a moustache), barba (a beard).

Lleva gafas (glasses), pendientes (earrings), una camisa blanca (a white shirt), un traje oscuro (a dark suit), una camisa a rayas (a striped shirt), un vestido largo (a long dress).

Pablo Neruda, in his Poema 19, from Veinte Poemas de Amor y una canción desesperada, beautifully describes his wife. Click here to read it.

The Argentinian group Los Fabulosos Cadillacs made this great song called Desapariciones. It’s about people who have disappeared and it has a very good way of describing people. Check the video below and the lyrics to the song here.

See you next time!