Appearance Vocabulary in Spanish
A collection of Spanish words that describe physical appearances. Ideal for English students learning Spanish.
tener el pelo blanco
have white hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo blanco' translates to 'have white hair' in English. This phrase is usually used to describe a person's hair color. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'el pelo' translates to 'the hair', and 'blanco' means 'white'. It is worth noting that adjectives in Spanish generally follow nouns, unlike English where the adjective generally comes before the noun.
tener el pelo corto
having short hair
The phrase 'tener el pelo corto' in Spanish translates to 'having short hair' in English. This phrase can be used to describe oneself or others in situations where the length of the hair is being discussed. For instance, in a conversation where you are describing your friend's appearance, you might use this phrase to specify that your friend has short hair as distinct from having long or medium length hair.
tener el pelo largo
have long hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo largo' translates to 'have long hair' in English. This is a common phrase used to describe someone's appearance, specifically referring to the length of their hair. It's often used in different contexts such as conversations among friends, family, or even professional situations. For instance, in describing a person's features, one might say 'Ella tiene el pelo largo' which means 'She has long hair' in English.
tener el pelo liso
having smooth hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo liso' translates to 'having smooth hair' in English. It is derived from 'tener' meaning 'to have', 'el pelo' referring to 'the hair', and 'liso' translated as 'smooth'. Generally, it is used in descriptions of people's appearance. One might say 'Ella tiene el pelo liso' to mean 'She has smooth hair'.
tener el pelo moreno
having brown hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo moreno' translates to 'having brown hair' in English. This phrase is used to describe a person's hair color. 'Tener' means 'to have', 'el pelo' means 'the hair', and 'moreno' means 'brown'. So when you say 'tener el pelo moreno' in Spanish, you're essentially describing someone as having brown hair.
tener el pelo rizado
having curly hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo rizado' translates to 'having curly hair' in English. This phrase is often used to describe an individual's physical attribute regarding their hair type. 'Tener' is the verb 'to have' in English, 'el pelo' stands for 'the hair', and 'rizado' translates to 'curly'. Therefore, when combined, the phrase means to possess or have curly hair.
tener el pelo rubio
have blond hair
The Spanish phrase 'tener el pelo rubio' translates to 'have blond hair' in English. It's typically used to describe someone's physical appearance. In this case, it would be used to denote a person who has blond hair.
tener gafas
Have glasses
The Spanish phrase 'tener gafas' translates into English as 'to have glasses'. Generally used in scenarios where someone owns or is wearing eyeglasses. The verb 'tener' expresses the possession of something, in this case, 'gafas' which means glasses. It's important to note that in Spanish, possession is expressed differently than in English, using the verb 'to have' rather than the verb 'to be' when referring to wearing or carrying items.
tener la piel clara
have clear skin
The Spanish phrase 'tener la piel clara' translates to 'have clear skin' in English. It is often used to describe someone who has unblemished or fair skin. This can be in a general context or in specific scenarios such as in beauty or healthcare. The phrase is made up of several words: 'tener' means 'to have', 'la piel' means 'the skin', and 'clara' means 'clear' or 'light-colored'. These words together form a common phrase in Spanish, demonstrating the descriptive nature of the language.
tener la piel oscura
have dark skin
The Spanish phrase 'tener la piel oscura' is directly translated to English as 'to have dark skin'. This phrase may be used in conversations describing one's physical attributes, specifically the color or tone of their skin. In Spanish, 'tener' signifies 'to have', 'la piel' translates to 'the skin', and 'oscura' means 'dark'. Therefore, when combined, 'tener la piel oscura' means to possess or be characteristic of dark skin.
tener la piel sensible
having sensitive skin
The phrase 'tener la piel sensible' translates to 'having sensitive skin' in English. It is often used to express when a person's skin reacts excessively to factors that are usually harmless to many people. This reaction might include itching, peeling, rashes or other forms of skin irruption. Such sensitivity can be caused by various elements such as climate, exposure to certain chemicals, and even stress.
tener la piel suave
have soft skin
The Spanish phrase 'tener la piel suave' directly translates to 'have soft skin' in English. It is typically used in romantic or personal grooming context. While 'tener' means 'to have', 'la piel' refers to 'the skin' and 'suave' translates to 'soft'. Hence, when combined, it refers to the condition or characteristic of having a soft skin.
tener las manos suave
have soft hands
The Spanish phrase 'tener las manos suave' translates to 'have soft hands' in English. This is typically used in a literal context, for example when one's hands feel smooth and gentle to the touch. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' in English, 'las manos' means 'the hands', and 'suave' means 'soft'. Thus, when these words are combined, it forms the phrase 'tener las manos suave'.
Example sentences with tener las manos suave →tener los ojos azules
have blue eyes
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos azules' translates to 'have blue eyes' in English. This is a descriptive phrase used in Spanish to describe someone's physical appearance, specifically the color of their eyes. Just like in English, Spanish speakers often use the color of someone's eyes as a defining characteristic.
tener los ojos claros
have clear eyes
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos claros' translates to 'have clear eyes' in English. This phrase can be used to describe someone with light-colored eyes such as blue or green, but it can also refer to someone who has a clear, uncomplicated view or understanding of a situation.
tener los ojos grandes
have big eyes
The phrase 'tener los ojos grandes' is a Spanish idiom that, translated directly, means 'to have big eyes'. The meaning of this phrase can vary based on context, but most commonly it is used to describe someone who either literally has large eyes, or metaphorically someone who is naive or easy to fool, similar to the English phrase 'wide eyed'. It can also be used to say someone is greedy or always wanting more, similar to the English phrase 'eyes bigger than your stomach'.
tener los ojos marrones
have brown eyes
The phrase 'tener los ojos marrones' in Spanish translates to 'have brown eyes' in English. This phrase is often used to describe the physical appearance of a person specifically their eye color. It is composed of 'tener' which means 'to have', 'los ojos' meaning 'the eyes', and 'marrones' meaning 'brown'. Overall, if you want to describe someone as having brown eyes in Spanish, you would say 'tiene los ojos marrones'.
tener los ojos negros
have black eyes
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos negros' translates to 'have black eyes' in English. It's usually used to describe someone's eye color, indicating that the person has dark, black eyes. This is an example of how in Spanish, descriptions often follow the noun they are describing, which might be different from English sentence structures.
tener los ojos oscuros
have dark eyes
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos oscuros' translates to 'have dark eyes' in English. It's a way to describe someone's physical appearance specifically referring to the color of their eyes. Just like in English, in Spanish, it is common to describe a person's features in this way. So, if you're learning Spanish and want to talk about someone's dark eyes, 'tener los ojos oscuros' is the phrase you would use.
tener los ojos pequeños
have small eyes
The phrase 'tener los ojos pequeños' is Spanish for 'have small eyes'. This phase may be utilized when describing a physical attribute about a person in Spanish.
tener los ojos verdes
have green eyes
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos verdes' translates to 'have green eyes' in English. It's a descriptive phrase commonly used in Spanish to describe someone's physical appearance specifically related to eye color. In a sentence, it could be used like 'Ella tiene los ojos verdes' which would translate to 'She has green eyes'. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' in English, 'los ojos' translates to 'the eyes', and 'verdes' is an adjective meaning 'green'. Therefore, combined, 'tener los ojos verdes' literally translates to 'to have the eyes green' but is understood as 'have green eyes' in proper English.
tener mal aspecto
look bad.
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal aspecto' translates to 'look bad' in English. This phrase is generally used in the context of someone or something appearing unwell, unhealthy, or in poor condition. It is an informal way to describe a disagreeable appearance and can be used both literally and figuratively. Just like in English, this phrase can be used to describe people, objects, or situations, depending on the context.
tener mal color
having bad color
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal color' can be translated into English as 'having a bad color'. This phrase is often used to refer to someone who looks pale, sickly, or otherwise unwell.
tener mal estilo
have bad style
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal estilo' translates to 'have bad style' in English. This phrase is indicative of an individual who possesses unsatisfactory, unappealing, or unattractive fashion sense or style. It is generally used as a critique or observation of someone's appearance, particularly their clothing or outfit. This phrase can also be used metaphorically, to denote a person's overall demeanor, way of doing things, or behavior that is considered unappealing or lacking refinement.
tener mal figura
To have a bad figure
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal figura' translates to 'have a bad figure' in English. It is typically used in Spanish language to refer to someone who, in the speaker's opinion, does not have good body shape or physical condition. However, like many phrases, its usage can be subjective and relies heavily on personal opinion.
tener mal presencia
having a bad presence
The term 'tener mal presencia' in Spanish translates to 'having a bad presence' in English. This phrase is typically used to describe someone who may have a negative or off-putting aura about them. This could be due to their behavior, disposition, or even their physical appearance. It infers that the person tends to leave an unfavorable impression on others.
tener mal tipo
having bad guy.
The Spanish phrase 'tener mal tipo' does not directly translate to 'having bad guy' in English. It is an idiomatic expression meaning to look or feel unwell or to give a bad impression. It is often used when someone seems sick or unhealthy. It may also indicate someone who does not make a good impression due to their actions or behaviors. Despite its literal translation, this phrase is not used to describe a 'bad guy' or villain.
tener mala cara
having a bad face
'Tener mala cara' is a colloquial Spanish phrase that literally translates to 'having a bad face'. However, the phrase does not refer to someone's physical appearance in a negative sense. It is often used to denote that someone is looking unwell or ill. If a person is 'teniendo mala cara', it means that this person appears to be in a bad mood, or seems to be feeling ill or unhealthy.
tener mala pinta
It looks bad.
The Spanish phrase 'tener mala pinta' translates to 'it looks bad' in English. It is often used in Spain to express dissatisfaction or concern about the appearance or projections of something or someone. Although it does not have a favorable tone, it is commonly used in colloquial language. It does not mean 'to have bad paint', as might be deduced from a literal translation.
tener una cicatriz
have a scar
The Spanish phrase 'tener una cicatriz' translates to 'have a scar' in English. This phrase could be used in different contexts, such as describing physical features or expressing emotional metaphors. In terms of grammar, 'tener' is the verb that means 'to have', 'una' is an article which means 'a', and 'cicatriz' is a noun that translates to 'scar'. Please note that verb tenses may change due to the context, and 'una' may be replaced with the plural form 'unas' if referring to multiple scars.