DESCRIBING PEOPLE -
FRENCH VOCABULARY TESTING GUIDE

 107 cards | 26 sub-topics | all 4 skills tested

INTRODUCTION


In this section, I am going to talk about general physical appearances as well as personality types. 

As you learn French vocabulary, you will find this topic absolutely necessary if you want to be able to describe anyone you encounter or know already. Studying these descriptive words and adjectives will surely give you plenty of opportunities to use your French vocabulary every day.


 And if you want to know why, well the reason is quite obvious. Let me put it this way: unless you live hidden in a cave as a hermit, with no human contact at all, you will see faces, many many of them in your lifetime. You will encounter all kinds of people, and deal with all kinds of personalities, ranging from super nice to downright crazy (stay away!).  

 

If you live in a big city, you will be bombarded with all kinds of ads displaying people of all shapes, colors. And thus, you can use this word list to practice your French vocabulary every day in almost all situations.

For example, are you trying to describe an uncle or an aunt you find obnoxious or sometimes weird? Well, I've listed some colorful adjectives you can use just for that. Go down the list of personality types below and grab what you need.  Is it a boy or girl you've always had a crush on? The French words you need to use to describe them are all listed below.  

I tried my best to make this French vocabulary list as clear and well-organized as possible. I also included common categories of human traits. But of course, this list is not exhaustive; there are many other words to add to it. This current list offers you a very good start, nevertheless.

 

Let's study now study the French words and expressions used to describe people's appearances and personalities.

1. DESCRIBING PEOPLE'S APPEARANCE

1.1 Describing people's height

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

1. grand(-e)

Tall

Mon amie, Lucie, est très grande./ My friend Lucie is very tall.

2. de taille moyenne

Medium height

Je suis une fille de taille moyenne./ I am a medium-height girl.

3.petit(-e)

Short

Mon ami est un peu petit./ My friend is a little short.

1.2 Describing people's weight/size

4. maigre

Skinny

Le malade est maigre./ The patient is skinny.

5. mince

Thin; Slim

La plupart des mannequins sont minces./ Most models are slim.

6. de poids moyen

Medium weight

Jean est un homme de poids moyen./ Jean is a medium-weight man.

7. rondelet(-ette)

Chubby; Plump

Paul se trouve un peu rondelet./ Paul finds himself a little chubby.

8. gros(-osse)

Fat

Cet homme est petit et gros./ This man is short and fat.

9. en surpoids

Overweight

Il y a beaucoup d'enfants en surpoids dans notre région./ There are many overweight children in our region.

10. obèse

Obese

Le nombre d'enfants obèses dans ce pays est inquiétant./ The number of obese children in this country is alarming.

1.3 Describing people's skin color

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11. (avoir) la peau claire/blanche

Fair-skinned

Christine a la peau claire./ Christine is fair-skinned.

12. bronzé(-e)

Tanned

Michel a le teint bronzé./ Michel has a tanned complexion

13. (avoir) la peau foncée/noire

Dark-skinned

Une personne à la peau noire./ A dark-skinned person.

1.4 Describing people's hair length

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

14. les cheveux courts

Short hair

Justine a les cheveux courts./ Justine has short hair.

15. les cheveux mi-longs

Medium-length hair

J'ai les cheveux mi-longs./ I have medium-length hair.

16. les cheveux longs

Long hair

Cette fille a les cheveux longs./ This girl has long hair.

1.5 Describing people's hairstyle

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

17.

les cheveux raides

Straight hair

J'ai les cheveux raides./ I have straight hair.

18.

les cheveux ondulés

Wavy hair

Tu as les cheveux ondulés./ You have wavy hair.

19.

les cheveux bouclés/frisés

Curly hair

Ben a de beaux cheveux bouclés./ Ben has nice curly hair.

20.

le chignon

Hair bun

Amandine a les cheveux en chignon./ Amandine's hair is pulled into a bun.

21.

la queue de cheval

Ponytail

Martha a les cheveux en queue de cheval./ Martha's hair is pulled into a ponytail.

22.

la natte

Pigtail

Les cheveux de Lucie sont tressés en nattes./ Lucie's hair is pullted into braids.

23.

la frange

Bangs

J'aime avoir une frange./ I like having.

1.6 Describing people's hair color

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

24.

les cheveux noirs

Black hair

Lina a les cheveux noirs./ Lina has black hair.

25.

les cheveux blonds

Blond hair

Tom a les cheveux blonds./ Tom has blond hair.

Tom est blond./ Tom has blond hair.

26.

les cheveux roux

Red hair

Christine a les cheveux roux./ Christine has red hair.

Christine est rousse./ Christine has red hair.

27.

les cheveux gris/blancs

Grey hair

Ce vieil homme a les cheveux blancs./ This old man has grey hair.

1.7 Describing the shape/size of people's eyes

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

28.

les petits yeux

Small eyes

Tu as de petits yeux./ You have small eyes.

29.

les grands yeux

Big eyes

Mon amie Bella a de grands yeux./ Bella, my friend, has big eyes.

30.

les yeux ronds

Round eyes

Un bébé aux yeux ronds./ A baby with round eyes.

31.

les yeux bridés

Slanted eyes

J'aime vos yeux bridés./ I like your slanted eyes.

1.8 Describing the color of people's eyes

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

32.

les yeux marron

Brown eyes

Vous avez des yeux marron./ You have brown eyes.

33.

les yeux bleus

Blue eyes

Liz a les yeux bleus./ Liz has blue eyes.

34.

les yeux verts

Green eyes

Vos jolis yeux verts me fascinent./ Your pretty green eyes fascinate me.

35.

les yeux ambre/ambrés

Amber eyes

Elle a les yeux ambre./ She has amber eyes.

36.

les yeux noisette

Hazel eyes

Elle a de magnifiques yeux noisette./ She has beautiful hazel eyes.

37.

les yeux gris

Grey/gray eyes

J'aime vos jolis yeux gris./ I like your pretty grey eyes.

1.9 Describing people's facial features

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

38.

joli(-e)

Pretty; Attractive

Une jolie dame./ A pretty lady.

39.

beau/bel, belle

Beautiful; Handsome

Harris est vraiment beau./ Harris is truly handsome.

40.

laid(-e)

Ugly

Il est sympa mais laid./ He is nice but ugly.

41.

moche

Ugly

Ce mec est vraiment moche./ This dude is really ugly.

42.

(avoir) une moustache

(wearing a) Moustache

Il a une moustache assez longue./ He wears quite a long moustache.

43.

(avoir) une barbe

(wearing a) Beard

J'ai une barbe sur cette photo./ I have a beard in this photo.

44.

des boutons

Pimples

Julie a des boutons au visage./ Julie has some pimples on her face.

45.

les rides (f)

Wrinkles

On a des rides quand on vieillit./ As we grow older, we get wrinkles.

46.

un oeil au beurre noir

Black eye

Je me suis fait un oeil au beurre noir à la bagarre./ I got a black eye during the fight.

1.10 Other features

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47.

le grain de beauté

Mole

J'ai un grain de beauté sur l'épaule gauche./ I have a mole on the left shoulder.

48. le tatouage

Tattoo

Elle a un tatouage autour du nombril./ She has a tattoo around her navel.

49. une cicatrice

Scar

Cette blessure m'a laissé une vilaine cicatrice. /This injury left me an ugly scar.

2. DESCRIBING PERSONALITY TYPES

2.1 Funny

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50. drôle

Funny

Je ne te trouve pas drôle./ I do not find you funny.

51. amusant(-e)

Amusing

Ton ami est très amusant./ Your friend is very amusing.

52. marrant(-e)

Hilarious

Marie est trop marrante./ Mary is too hilarious.

2.2 Dull

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53. ennuyeux(-euse)

Dull; Boring

Ma nouvelle collègue est tellement ennuyeuse!/ My new colleague is so dull.

54. barbant(-e)

Boring (informal)

Qu'il est barbant, ce mec!/ What a boring guy!

55. chiant(-e)

Boring (very informal)

Ce mec est super chiant./ This dude is deadly boring.

2.3 Intelligent

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56. intelligent(-e)

Intelligent; Clever

Elle a un faible pour les hommes intelligents./ She has a weakness for intelligent men.

57. brillant(-e)

Bright

Adèle est une fille brillante./ Adele is a bright girl.

58. doué(e)

Gifted

Alex est l'élève le plus doué de la classe./ Alex is the most gifted student in the class.

2.4 Stupid

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SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

59. stupide

Stupid

Il comprend tout; il n'est pas stupide./ He understands everything; he is not stupid.

60. bête

Silly

Tu es bête de penser de la sorte./ You are silly to think this way.

61. un(-e) idiot(-e)

Idiot (noun)

Je n'ai pas de doctorat mais je ne suis pas une idiote./ I don't have a ph.d but I am not an idiot.

62. bouché(-e)

Dumb; Thick

Tu es bouché ou quoi? Est-ce si difficile à comprendre?/ Are you dumb or what? Is it so hard to understand?

2.5 Friendly

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63. gentil(-ille)

Friendly / kind

Elle est tellement gentille!/ She's such a friendly person!

64. sympa

Nice; Kind; Friendly

Je veux rencontrer une fille très sympa./ I want to meet a very nice girl.

65. sociable

Sociable

Tes voisins semblent très sociables!/ Your neighbors seem very sociable.

66. chaleureux(-euse)

Welcoming

Tom se montre chaleureux envers tout le monde./ Tom is welcoming towards everybody.

2.6 Unfriendly

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67. méchant(-e)

Mean

Ne sois pas méchant avec les autres./ Don't be mean to others.

68. froid(-e)

Cold; Unfriendly

Elle est froide en public, mais je sais qu'elle est gentille. / She is cold in public but I know that she is nice.

69. distant(-e)

Distant; Aloof

Il a été distant pendant toute la soirée./ He has been aloof during the entire evening.

70. antipathique

Unlikable; Disagreeable

Ton air froid te rend antipathique./ Your cold attitude makes you look unlikable.

2.7 Hardworking

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71. travailleur(-euse)

Hardworking

Luc est très travailleur./ Luke is very hardworking.

72. ambitieux(-euse)

Ambitious

Luc est un jeune homme ambitieux./ Luke is an ambitious young man.

73. appliqué(-e)

Diligent

Carole est très appliquée dans son travail./ Carole is very diligent in her work.

74. rigoureux(-euse)

Thorough; Meticulous

Julie est très rigoureuse dans tout ce qu'elle fait./ Carole is very thorough in everything she does.

2.8 Lazy

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75. paresseux(-euse)

Lazy

Cet employé est paresseux./ This employee is lazy.

76. indolent(-e)

Indolent

Le patron trouve ce ouvrier quelque peu indolent./ The boss finds this worker rather lazy.

77. oisif(-ive)

Idle; Unoccupied

Le patron déteste le caractère oisif de cette employée./ The boss hates the idle behavior of this worker.

2.9 Cheerful

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78. joyeux(-euse)

Cheerful

Marie est généralement joyeuse le matin./ Mary is generally cheerful in the morning.

79. optimiste

Optimistic; Positive

Je suis très optimiste./ I am very optimistic.

80. heureux(-euse)

Happy

Je suis heureuse au travail./ I am happy at work.

2.10 Moody

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81. d'humeur sombre/changeante

Moody

Il est d'humeur sombre quand il a faim./ He is moody when he is hungry.

82. pessimiste

Pessimistic; Negative

Je ne suis pas pessimiste, juste réaliste./ I am not pessimistic, just realistic.

83. grincheux(-euse)

Grumpy

Elle est toujours grincheuse au réveil./ She is always grumpy in the morning.

84. malheureux(-euse)

Unhappy

Les personnes malheureuses ont besoin d'amour./ Unhappy people need love.

85. irritable

Irritable

Mon cousin irritable est impoli avec tout le monde./ My irritable cousin is rude with everyone.

2.11 Confident

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86. confiant(e)

Confident

Elle est confiante dans ses choix./ She is confident in her choices.

87. extraverti(-e)

Outgoing; Extroverted

Paul est extraverti. Il n'a pas peur de parler à des étrangers./ Paul is outgoing. He's not afraid to talk to strangers.

88. sûr(-e)

Sure; Confident

Martine est sûre de ses forces./ Martine is sure of her strengths.

2.12 Shy

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89. timide

Shy; Timid

Alain est un garçon timide./ Alain is a shy boy.

90. introverti(-e)

Introverted

Il est trop introverti pour jouer dans un théâtre./ He is too introverted to play in a theater.

91. réservé(-e)

Reserved; Timid

Jean est assez réservé en général./ John is quite reserved in general.

2.13 Honest

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92. honnête

Honest

I am an honest man./ Je suis un homme honnête.

93. digne de confiance

Trustworthy

Nous recherchons des employés dignes de confiance./ We are looking for trustworthy employees.

94. sincère

Sincere

C'est une personne très sincère./ She is a very sincere person.

95. fiable

Reliable; Trustworthy

Andréa est quelqu'un de fiable./ Andréa is a reliable person.

96. franc (-che)

Frank; Direct; Honest

Elle est franche; elle dit ce qu'elle pense./ She is frank. She says what she means.

2.14 Deceitful

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97. malhonnête

Deceitful; Dishonest

Vous êtes une personne malhonnête./ You are a dishonest person.

98. qui ment(-ent)

Lying

Les enfants qui mentent seront punis./ Lying children will be punished.

99. pas fiable

Unreliable

Ce mec n'est pas fiable./ This guy is unreliable.

100. pas digne de confiance

Untrustworthy

Ton associé n'est pas digne de confiance./ Your business partner is untrustworthy.

2.15 Humble

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101. humble

Humble

Malgré sa célébrité, il reste humble./ Despite his fame, he remains humble.

102. modeste

Modest

Elle est très célèbre mais elle demeure modeste./ She is very famous but she remains modest.

2.16 Arrogant

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103. arrogant(-e)

Arrogant

Il est arrogant depuis qu'il a gagné au loto./ He is arrogant since he won the lotto.

104. prétentieux(-euse)

Pretentious

Cet homme prétentieux ne parle que de lui./ This pretentious man only talks about himself.

105. vaniteux(-euse)

Vain; Egotistical

Les personnes vaniteuses pensent qu'elles sont meilleures que les autres./ People who are vain think they are better than others.

106. orgueilleux(-euse)

Arrogant

Je pense que Tom est un peuorgueilleux./ I think that Tom is a little arrogant.

107. trop fier(-ière)

Too proud; Arrogant

Il est trop fier pour reconnaitre son erreur./ He is too proud to acknowledge his mistake.

I hope this French vocabulary list wil help you describe someone more easily. As always, practicing these words (i.e using them in actual sentences in writing or verbally) is key to your success. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or comments. Merci et à bientôt!


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