In all languages including Italian, we can describe a person in two different ways. On the one hand, we can describe their appearance, and on the other hand, their character. Let’s see how we use the most common adjectives in Italian to describe a person.
Describe people with adjectives: appearance
When we see a person, the first thing we do, consciously or unconsciously, is pay attention to what they look like. We might notice how tall they are and how well they fit, we might learn about their age, we might notice details like eye and hair color or the size of their nose and lips. But how can we describe these physical characteristics to someone in Italian? Here is a helpful list of common adjectives you can use.
Height (height)
Alto / alta
High / other
high
Basso / low
Brazil / Bath
short
medium height
medium height
Giovanni is really tall.
Giovanni is really tall.
I’ve always been the shortest girl in my class.
I’ve always been the shortest girl in my class.
How tall is Giovanni?He will be of medium height.
How tall is Giovanni? He is of medium height.
hair
important: In Italian, hair is always considered a plural, whereas in English we consider it a mass noun. Therefore, all the following adjectives are written in the masculine plural.
hair color
hairstyle
Giorgia has red hair, a little curly, I think she’s grown by now.
Giorgia has red hair that’s a little frizzy and I’m sure it’s pretty long too.
The girls have long, sleek blonde hair.
The girls have long blond hair with straight hair.
I saw a guy with black curly hair. This is awesome!
I saw a guy with black curly hair. He is beautiful!
nose
delicate
Thin / thin
Grosso
big
my doll has a potato nose.
My doll has a button nose.
Blessed are you with such a thin nose.
You are so lucky to have such a slender nose.
My grandfather had a big nose.
My grandfather had a big nose.
lips (lips)
My favorite lips are plump ones.
Full lips are my favorite.
You inherited your father’s thin lips
You inherited your father’s thin lips.
beard
I can never kiss you with that long, strong beard.
I can never kiss you with that long, prickly beard.
Your beard has been short since I’ve known you.
You’ve had a short beard since I’ve known you.
figure
bony / Thin
Thin / tilt
bony
Grosso / big
big / Gross
greatly
Slim / Slim
Slim / quickly
thin
Grasso / fat
Grassi / Glass
fat
You have always been thin.
You have always been thin.
I can’t say he’s fat, he’s just a little out of shape.
I can’t say he’s fat, he’s just a little out of shape.
age
young / young
young
Vecchio / old
old / old
old
middle aged
middle aged
elderly / old woman
elderly / older women
old (more polite)
You were so young when I met you.
You were young when I met you.
When I am old, I will go to the seaside to live.
When I’m old, I’m going to live by the sea.
overall appearance
Bello / Bella
Bailey / Beauty
handsome/beautiful
normal / normal
normal, average
Lovely / carina
Lovely / Karina
cute/pretty
ugly / ugly
ugly / ugly
ugly
Don’t tell me you think Mario is pretty!
Don’t tell me you think Mario is handsome!
I find it very cute. He has a very sweet smile.
She is so cute. She has such a sweet smile.
Describe a person with an adjective: character
We know that looks aren’t everything. The body describes only one part of a person – the rest is their personality, character and behavior.
Here’s how we describe a person in Italian using very common adjectives that refer to an individual’s character or personality.
open or close
Open / Open / Open / Open = open
locking / closure / closure / closure = off
You are so open and tolerant to others.
You are so open and forgiving with others.
I have been unable to form a relationship with him. It’s too closed and too quiet.
I have never been able to get along with him. He was too closed, too quiet.
smiling/happy or sad/sullen
Smile / Smile = smiling, cheerful, kind
allegro / Allegra / Allegri / happy = happy, happy
sad / sad = sad
pout / pout / pout / pout = sullen, sullen
She is always so smiling and cheerful. It puts me in a very good mood.
She is always so cheerful and happy. She really put me in a good mood.
I don’t want to see George.he’s always gloomy.
I don’t want to see George. He was always gloomy.
bloated or shy
swell / swell / swell / swell = outgoing, enthusiastic, exuberant
Shy / Shy / Shy / Shy = shy
She is so broad that she instantly puts you at ease.
She is so ebullient that she instantly puts you at ease.
Don’t be shy and try to express your opinion.
Don’t be shy and try to speak your mind.
polite or rude
Gentiles / type = kind, polite, polite
impolite / rude / rude / rude = rude, disrespectful
You miss me so kindly.
It’s so nice of you to think about me.
I have never met such a rude person.
I have never met such a rude person.
good or unpleasant
OK / OK / OK / OK = good, kind, funny
unhappy / unfriendly / unhappy / unhappy = unfriendly, unpleasant
Francesca is very good. It makes me laugh.
Francesca is so pretty she made me laugh so hard.
I didn’t expect this answer. This is very unpleasant.
I didn’t expect such a reaction. This is very unpleasant.
Extroverted, sociable or introverted
outgoing / outgoing / outgoing person / outgoing = outgoing
friendly match / Social = sociable
Introverted / Introverted / Introvert / Introverted = introverted
You are very sociable and can make friends in minutes.
You are very sociable and can make friends in minutes.
She’s so introverted that it’s hard for her to transfer.
She was so introverted that it was difficult for her to transfer schools.
interesting or boring
pleasure / interesting = interesting
boring / boring / boring / boring = boring
You have to be a comedian. You are so funny.
You should be a comedian. You are too funny.
I don’t want to go out with him, he’s boring.
I don’t want to go out with him, he’s boring.
smart or dull
clever / clever = clever, clever
thick head / boring / boring / Otus = slow, sluggish
Claudio is one of the smartest people I know.
Claudio is one of the smartest people I know.
Nothing, he didn’t want to reason. It’s dull.
Forget it, he won’t listen to reason. He is slow.
About Allegra Lucarelli: Allegra is a home language consultant and bilingual influencer.She helps families raise their children to be bilingual and multilingual AllegraLu.com.
