How to describe people and things in Spanish

Describe what something looks, feels or tastes like. These 20 adjectives cover common everyday situations and lead into flexible patterns for making natural descriptions.

20 adjectives for everyday descriptions

Aggressive vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Agresivo

English

Aggressive

Balanced vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Equilibrado

English

Balanced

Broken vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Roto

English

Broken

Bumpy vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Irregular

English

Bumpy

Clean vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Limpio

English

Clean

Comfy vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Cómodo

English

Comfy

Cute vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Lindo

English

Cute

Dangerous vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Peligroso

English

Dangerous

Delicious vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Delicioso

English

Delicious

Dirty vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Sucio

English

Dirty

Fast vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Rápido

English

Fast

Heavy vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Pesado

English

Heavy

High vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Alto

English

High

Long vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Largo

English

Long

Old vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Viejo

English

Old

Sharp vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Afilado

English

Sharp

Small vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Pequeño

English

Small

Torn vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Rasgado

English

Torn

Twisted vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Torcido

English

Twisted

Wet vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Mojado

English

Wet

Adjectives in context

See how each word works in a natural Spanish sentence.

  1. El perro parece agresivo, pero está bien entrenado.The dog looks aggressive, but it is well trained.
  2. El menú es variado y equilibrado.The menu is varied and balanced.
  3. El ascensor está roto desde ayer.The lift has been broken since yesterday.
  4. El camino es irregular durante los últimos kilómetros.The road is bumpy for the last few kilometres.
  5. El apartamento estaba limpio al llegar.The apartment was clean when we arrived.
  6. Este sofá es muy cómodo para dormir.This sofa is very comfortable for sleeping.
  7. El cachorro es pequeño y lindo.The puppy is small and cute.
  8. Es peligroso nadar aquí con mal tiempo.It's dangerous to swim here in bad weather.
  9. El postre estaba delicioso.The dessert was delicious.
  10. El suelo quedó sucio después de la fiesta.The floor was dirty after the party.
  11. Este tren es más rápido que el autobús.This train is faster than the bus.
  12. El paquete es demasiado pesado para levantarlo solo.The parcel is too heavy to lift alone.
  13. El techo es muy alto en esta habitación.The ceiling is very high in this room.
  14. Fue un viaje largo, pero agradable.It was a long but pleasant journey.
  15. Ese puente es viejo, pero todavía es seguro.That bridge is old, but it is still safe.
  16. Ten cuidado porque el cuchillo está afilado.Be careful because the knife is sharp.
  17. Buscamos un hotel pequeño cerca del centro.We're looking for a small hotel near the centre.
  18. El bolsillo está rasgado por dentro.The pocket is torn on the inside.
  19. El cable está torcido detrás del escritorio.The cable is twisted behind the desk.
  20. El abrigo sigue mojado por la lluvia.The coat is still wet from the rain.

Building descriptions in Spanish

Use these patterns to describe a person or object, compare two things and explain how something has changed.

Es…

It is…

El apartamento es pequeño pero cómodo.The apartment is small but comfortable.

Está…

It is…

El suelo está limpio.The floor is clean.

Parece…

It looks/seems…

El camino parece peligroso.The road looks dangerous.

Es más … que…

It is more … than…

Este tren es más rápido que el otro.This train is faster than the other one.

Está demasiado…

It is too…

La maleta está demasiado pesada.The suitcase is too heavy.

A conversation about a holiday apartment

  1. Mara¿Qué tal es el apartamento?What is the apartment like?
  2. JoelEs pequeño, pero está limpio y es muy cómodo.It's small, but it's clean and very comfortable.
  3. Mara¿El edificio es viejo?Is the building old?
  4. JoelSí, y el ascensor está roto.Yes, and the lift is broken.
  5. Mara¿Hay algo más peligroso o incómodo?Is there anything else dangerous or uncomfortable?
  6. JoelNo, aunque el camino hasta allí es largo e irregular.No, although the road there is long and bumpy.

Try one in the VocabTally quiz

Choose the English meaning, just as you would while practising in the app.

00

What does this mean in English?

Cómodo

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