Personal descriptions in Spanish are a way of talking about yourself or others, highlighting different aspects of a person’s appearance, personality, profession, and other relevant details. These descriptions can vary depending on the context—whether you’re introducing yourself in a conversation, writing about someone for a profile, or giving a more detailed account of someone.
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Watch the following video to hear the pronunciation.
Here’s a breakdown of how personal descriptions work:
1. Physical Description (Descripción física)
This part focuses on the external characteristics of a person, such as height, hair color, eye color, complexion, and facial features.
Key Elements:
- Height: “Soy alto/a” (I am tall) or “Mido 1.75 metros” (I am 1.75 meters tall).
- Hair color: “Tengo el cabello castaño” (I have brown hair), “Mi cabello es corto y lacio” (My hair is short and straight).
- Eye color: “Mis ojos son azules” (My eyes are blue).
- Complexion: “Tengo una complexión delgada” (I have a slim build) or “Soy corpulento/a” (I am stocky).
- Facial features: “Tengo una nariz pequeña” (I have a small nose), “Mi cara es redonda” (My face is round).
Example of a Physical Description:
Soy de estatura media, tengo el cabello corto y castaño, y los ojos marrones. Mi piel es clara y tengo una sonrisa agradable.
(I am of medium height, I have short brown hair, and brown eyes. My skin is light and I have a pleasant smile.)
2. Personality Description (Descripción de personalidad)
This part describes a person’s internal characteristics, how they act, what they like to do, their values, and how they interact with others.
Key Elements:
- Character traits: “Soy extrovertido/a” (I am outgoing), “Soy tímido/a” (I am shy), “Soy muy amable” (I am very kind).
- Interests or hobbies: “Me gusta leer” (I like reading), “Disfruto practicar deportes” (I enjoy playing sports), “Soy muy creativo/a” (I am very creative).
- Attitudes: “Soy tranquilo/a” (I am calm), “Soy responsable” (I am responsible), “Soy optimista” (I am optimistic).
- Social skills: “Soy empático/a” (I am empathetic), “Me gusta ayudar a los demás” (I like helping others), “Me llevo bien con la gente” (I get along well with people).
Example of a Personality Description:
Soy una persona muy sociable, siempre trato de hacer reír a los demás. Me gusta escuchar y soy muy empático/a con los problemas de mis amigos.
(I am a very sociable person, I always try to make others laugh. I like to listen and I am very empathetic with my friends’ problems.)
3. Occupation/Study Description (Descripción de ocupación/estudios)
This part focuses on what a person does professionally or academically. It can include jobs, studies, or areas of expertise.
Key Elements:
- Occupation: “Soy ingeniero/a” (I am an engineer), “Trabajo como profesor/a” (I work as a teacher), “Soy estudiante de medicina” (I am a medical student).
- Studies: “Estudio arquitectura” (I study architecture), “Estoy haciendo un máster en administración de empresas” (I am doing a master’s in business administration).
- Professional interests: “Me apasiona la tecnología” (I am passionate about technology), “Me interesa mucho el arte” (I am very interested in art), “Trabajo en marketing digital” (I work in digital marketing).
Example of an Occupation/Study Description:
Trabajo como abogada y me especializo en derecho penal. Me gusta defender a los inocentes y siempre trato de encontrar soluciones justas.
(I work as a lawyer and specialize in criminal law. I like defending the innocent and always try to find fair solutions.)
4. Age (Edad)
While it’s not always necessary to include age, it can be important in some contexts. This can be stated simply or in a more casual way.
Examples:
- “Tengo 25 años” (I am 25 years old).
- “Soy joven, tengo 18 años” (I am young, I am 18 years old).
- “Tengo 50 años, pero me siento como de 30” (I am 50 years old, but I feel like I’m 30).
5. Other Details (Otros aspectos)
Sometimes, you may want to add additional details that help complete the description, such as interests, hobbies, or a unique fact.
Examples:
- “Me gusta mucho viajar” (I really like traveling).
- “Soy una persona muy creativa y siempre tengo nuevas ideas” (I am a very creative person and I always have new ideas).
- “Toco la guitarra” (I play guitar).
Example of a Full Personal Description:
Me llamo Ana, tengo 32 años. Soy de estatura media, tengo el cabello largo y negro, y mis ojos son marrones. Me considero una persona tranquila, pero también disfruto de las aventuras. Trabajo como diseñadora gráfica y me encanta experimentar con nuevos estilos. En mi tiempo libre, me gusta viajar y aprender sobre culturas diferentes.
(My name is Ana, I am 32 years old. I am of medium height, I have long black hair, and my eyes are brown. I consider myself a calm person, but I also enjoy adventures. I work as a graphic designer and love experimenting with new styles. In my free time, I like to travel and learn about different cultures.)
How to Structure a Personal Description:
- Introduction: Start with your name or a brief introduction about yourself.
- Physical Description: Mention your most notable physical traits.
- Personality Description: Talk about your character, interests, and how you interact with others.
- Occupation/Studies: Mention your job or what you’re studying.
- Closing: You can finish by adding hobbies, current projects, or other personal details.
Summary:
Personal descriptions in Spanish are a way to give a detailed account of someone’s characteristics, both internal and external. They can include physical traits, personality features, occupation or studies, and sometimes age or other specific details. These descriptions help provide a clearer image of a person and are used in a variety of situations, from casual introductions to more formal profiles.
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