Introduction
Describing people in German involves using a variety of adjectives to convey physical appearances and personality traits. This guide provides common adjectives and their translations to help you accurately portray individuals in German.
Physical Appearance
Common Adjectives
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Tall | groß |
| Short | klein |
| Slim | schlank |
| Heavy | kräftig |
| Athletic | athletisch |
| Young | jung |
| Old | alt |
| Beautiful | schön |
| Handsome | gutaussehend |
| Ugly | hässlich |
| Blonde | blond |
| Brunette | brünett |
| Black-haired | schwarzhaarig |
| Bald | glatzköpfig |
| Long-haired | langhaarig |
| Short-haired | kurzhaarig |
| Blue-eyed | blauäugig |
| Brown-eyed | braunäugig |
| Green-eyed | grünäugig |
| Big | groß |
| Small | klein |
| Large | groß |
| Small | klein |
Example Sentences
- Er ist groß und schlank.
- He is tall and slim.
- Sie hat lange, blonde Haare.
- She has long, blonde hair.
- Mein Vater ist glatzköpfig.
- My father is bald.
Personality Traits
Common Adjectives
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Friendly | freundlich |
| Unfriendly | unfreundlich |
| Kind | nett |
| Mean | gemein |
| Outgoing | offen |
| Shy | schüchtern |
| Hardworking | fleißig |
| Lazy | faul |
| Funny | lustig |
| Serious | ernst |
| Creative | kreativ |
| Intelligent | intelligent |
| Honest | ehrlich |
| Dishonest | unehrlich |
| Brave | mutig |
| Cowardly | ängstlich |
| Generous | großzügig |
| Stingy | geizig |
| Patient | geduldig |
| Impatient | ungeduldig |
Example Sentences
- Sie ist sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit.
- She is very friendly and helpful.
- Mein Bruder ist lustig und kreativ.
- My brother is funny and creative.
- Er ist ein fleißiger Arbeiter.
- He is a hardworking worker.
Combining Physical and Personality Descriptions
When describing someone in German, you can combine physical and personality traits to create a more complete picture.
Example Sentences
- Meine Schwester ist groß und hat kurze Haare. Sie ist auch sehr intelligent und kreativ.
- My sister is tall and has short hair. She is also very intelligent and creative.
- Thomas ist ein gutaussehender Mann mit braunen Augen. Er ist freundlich und offen.
- Thomas is a handsome man with brown eyes. He is friendly and outgoing.
- Frau Müller ist eine ältere Dame mit grauen Haaren. Sie ist immer nett und geduldig.
- Mrs. Müller is an older lady with gray hair. She is always kind and patient.
Practice
Describe Yourself
Try to describe yourself using the adjectives provided:
- Ich bin...
- Ich habe...
- Meine Persönlichkeit ist...
Describe a Friend or Family Member
Choose a friend or family member and describe them:
- Mein Freund ist...
- Meine Mutter hat...
- Mein Bruder ist...
Conclusion
Describing people in German involves using a mix of physical and personality adjectives. By mastering these common terms, you can create vivid and accurate portrayals of individuals in any context.