That’s slight. Skinny, a slightly informal word, means very much the same: I don’t like his looks – he’s too skinny. Good luck and thanks for the positive feedback! Every language has a corresponding set of words to describe people’s different body types and shapes. Maybe you’ll end up looking like Courtney Love. Stocky, for example, means ‘strong and wide’: He’s got the stocky build of a rugby player. I kept falling on it. We also use this adjective as a euphemism (a way of saying something negative indirectly). Your email address will not be published. The word petite is only used for women, and means that the woman is short AND thin. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. But this time by choice. . Best description gets a free virtual cake. Youngish This is a great way to describe someone who’s sort of young, but maybe hitting middle age. The general shape or figure of a person is defined mainly by the molding of skeletal structures, as well as the distribution of muscles and fat. But when do you stop being young? “Full-figured,” “Juno-esque” (for the goddess) and “Rubens-esque ” (for the Flemish painter) are often used to refer to women with large breasts and broad hips. But for a guy, not a woman. With this shape, your shoulders and bust are narrower than your hips. You’d happily look at this person for hours if it wasn’t socially unacceptable.
The word for … Maybe I should add some more words or remove something what looks inappropriate. Finally, the word lanky … Another word for shape. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Thanks so much Annie! Pingback: There is no such thing as a true synonym in English. Someone who is scrawny is so thin that their bones stick out: He was a scrawny little kid. I really found this interesting and couldn’t stop reading. This is quite subjective I guess. aerodynamic adjective. This is when you use peroxide to lighten it. You know, when your stomach looks like this: This is what I think of when I think of “ripped” — muscular and in good shape. Learning while having fun – thanks a bunch. When they sit down, they look uncomfortable and awkward. This was really helpful and at the same time witty. Descriptive words / Adjectives for Shapes & Patterns below. Handsome It’s like beautiful but usually for men. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), View CUPCambridgeDictionary’s profile on Facebook, View cambridgedictionary’s profile on Google+, About Words – Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog, There is no such thing as a true synonym in English. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Now tell me — what does (s)he look like? Warm-Up Sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," or any song that mentions various parts of the body. Find more ways to say shape, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Keep doing more of the same! Words for Body Types & Movement. ( Log Out / This is informal and usually used for men. What are you? If you call someone big-boned, it’s usually just another way of saying that they’re fat. They’re not ugly. Kittens are weird — they make us change our voice and say stupid things like “You’re a kitty, aren’t you? asymmetrical Procedure. Learn some common English idioms and phrases with shapes. Bony (Of a person or part of the body) so thin that the bones are prominent +. Probably with visible muscle action going on. There are 65 other words to describe female body listed above. ( Log Out / Slender, for example, means ‘slim and graceful’: She was small and slender, like a dancer. We seriously must stop labeling things like this. “He’s got closely-cropped hair. ‘heavy duty’, ‘plus size’, ‘Wanda’, ‘Margret’, ‘Miss Piggy’, ‘Yo Mamma’ & ‘Yolanda’! Thank you so much, Gabriel. very flat. Skeletal structure grows and changes only up to the point at which a human reaches adulthood and remains essentially the same for the rest of their life. Brisk - Active, fast, and energetic +. And since an earlier commenter added terms about large people, I can add two for the slim set: “willowy,” which implies natural grace, and “svelte,” which is borrowed from French, so it must be elegant. Describe the proper body mechanics while standing. We’re all getting older. Cute We actually often use this for things like kittens. Usually quite short. Thank you very much for the article. Hooray! I found it really helpful, since it is extremely difficult to get (find or presume) such kind of information, especially when you live in non-english country. Thirtyish About thirty. 10 Words For Getting In Shape. What a “hoot”! It’s really a fun loving & informative . Plump and chubby mean ‘slightly fat’ but both sound almost pleasant and are often used of young children: She was admiring the baby’s plump little legs./Look at his lovely chubby cheeks! Thanks ma’am, your blogs are such a great way to understand words and their usage. You’ll have to ask someone older than me. You can do the same with other ages: “sixtyish,” “sixteenish.” In fact, while we’re here, you can do this with times, too: “Let’s meet at Wimbledon at ten-ish.”. Maybe you don’t like your hair colour? Free thesaurus definition of describing a person s muscles and general shape from the Macmillan English Dictionary - a free English dictionary online with thesaurus and with pronunciation from Macmillan Education. Remember — all of these are used to describe hair, not people. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Body shapes May 7, 2012 by Kate Woodford The English language is full of words that describe the shape of our bodies, some of them positive and some of them less positive. You either call someone slim or fat, but there are so many different English words to replace them. I would very much appreciate it if you could look on the diagram and share your opinion if every word gets a proper place. Objectives: 1. I think the difference between “How does he look?” and “What does he look like” is so subtle that most people wouldn’t feel it was weird if you used “How does he look?” to mean “What does he look like?”, Having said that, I’d agree that “How does he look?” is more likely to elicit an adjective rather than a description. good illustrations!! Pretty Not as strong as beautiful, but still positive. Normal is subjective. Everyone has a physique (except ghosts) but the word often refers to a muscular or well-sculpted body. I mean, really think about it. But be careful: We don’t usually say “She’s slight.” We usually say “She’s got a slight build.”. There’s a simple formula for this: “You know that guy in the office in his early twenties? ‘Thin’ is often used in a negative way: She’s very pretty but she’s too thin. If we classify everyone as thin or fat there’s no way we’ll ever create a healthy perception of weight in society. Physique is a word used to describe the form or shape of the human body. Of course, there are just as many words to describe the opposite situation. Think about cherubs. 3. Even thinner than ‘skinny’ is scrawny (also a slightly informal word). Get a list of 75 terms you can use to describe works of art accurately and precisely. Spiky When your hair is gelled up into spikes. The purpose of such exercises is to improve the body's capacity to take in and use oxygen efficiently and develop endurance. I thought she was in her fifties!”. Good. OK. Let’s start with some adjectives to describe someone’s general body shape. Gabriel Clark is an English teacher with 14 years’ experience and an MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics from Portsmouth University. Words are listed in Alphabetical Order. You know how some men gain weight? Maybe we should stop and reflect on what this means. Words used to describe the shape of objects - thesaurus. As you've probably noticed, adjectives for " female body " are listed above. Probably the most commonly used adjective to describe someone who has too little fat is thin. Thanks!! The fashion industry can always find terms to sell to customers who don’t fit their usual model. Learn some shape adjectives to describe objects more generally. If you want to do it well, describing people’s appearance in English can be tricky and requires a lot of detail. Like this: Greasy You know when someone hasn’t washed their hair for a long time? Only three negative ones. Use the below list to find different terms pertaining to women. Young You know this, right? Youngish! (Yes, the pun is intended.) Slicked-back When you use gel or oil to comb your hair back. The above adjectives are generally negative, but there are as many adjectives to describe people who are thin in a way that is positive. OK. Let’s start with some adjectives to describe someone’s general body shape. How to use these words in sentences & while you speak: For Example : “It is a two-dimensional figure”, “This Valley is very deep”, “I like this Straight statue”. Done that? and a whole lot of other things. Good-looking Er… he (or she) looks … good. People can label you based on what they see, its up to you to try to match what you know of yourself to what they are trying to say about you. If your waist measurements are about the same as your hip or bust, and your shoulders... Triangle or “pear”. Let’s note as well, that in many parts of the non-Western world, large breasts and broad hips are considered highly erotic. Dreaded In a lot of languages, the word for this is “rasta.” Think of Bob Marley. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. | About Words - Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog. Maybe not: Highlighted Perhaps you don’t want to bleach all of it? Lesson 1: BODY SHAPES AND ACTION Time Allotment: 40 minutes I. an aerodynamic shape or design allows a plane, car etc to move through the air in a smooth and fast way. This is awesome. Dear Kate, Very annoying.”. Find more ways to say body, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Describing different Body Shapes & Types | Word Replacements for Slim & Fat Describing body shape and type is always an interesting topic for gossip. Similarly, big is sometimes used as a less direct way of saying ‘fat’: Sophie didn’t use to be so big, did she? This sense of the word is also used in a tongue-in-cheek way to describe having fun at the expense of others, as in "The media had a field day with the scandal." Great resource! We use it when we want to say that someone has nothing about them that’s attractive. Similarly, gymnasts, athletes & trapeze artists (male or female) could be described as “lithe”. “Hey, you’re looking slim these days. ‘Thin’ is often used in a negative way: She’s very pretty but she’s too thin. The word thin of course talks about being slim, but is it a positive word or is it a negative word? Mousy brown A sort of brown, but a sort of pale brown. Just so you know, it’s more common to use the noun: Afro Very thick, very curly hair in a rounded shape. angular adjective. ESL Vocabulary Words for Body Movements Share Flipboard Email Print Johner Images/Getty Images Languages. Similarly, we know what an ordinary person looks like, so we tend to emphasize the unusual in our choice of descriptive adjectives. Pingback: Adjectives (lexis) | ELT Infodump, That’s a very good idea, Joyce ! Bulbous - Fat, round, or bulging +. We sometimes use other, slightly less negative words to describe someone who is a little fat. Slender Thin, in a pretty or elegant kind of way. ... Stout. Maybe this is the way we have of fitting people into absurd pre-designed categories so that in the end nobody feels fine about their body. 2. Rough This is actually quite rude, so be careful with this one. In golf, for instance, par is the expected score, so the colorful vocabulary is reserved for scores under par (“birdie” and “eagle”) and scores over par (“bogey”). willowy. tall, thin, and graceful. Fat is probably the most commonly used adjective for describing someone who has too much flesh but, it is very direct. List of Descriptive Words and Adjectives for Shapes & Patterns. For more adjectives, check out 59 Positive Personality Adjectives to Describe Your Favourite Friends. containing a lot of angles. Much appreciated! The English language is full of words that describe the shape of our bodies, some of them positive and some of them less positive. Do you have any clues as to how to get my wits back? Hi Jack. Flabby We usually use this to describe a part of someone’s body, not the person as a whole. I don’t know. He can be found giving talks at conferences, cycling around post-Soviet neighbourhoods or performing music in empty bars. Use the below list to find different terms pertaining to shapes and patterns. Ginger “Ginger” is a way of describing people with naturally orange (“red”) hair. Stout Maybe slightly fat but strong or solid looking. There you go — I’ve just decided for everyone. But that bit in the middle? In English it also means “small,” but we tend to use it to describe short women. Move the body properly in response to sounds and music. It means very overweight. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Even on the back and the back of the hands! I thought it was helpful. Even stronger than “beautiful.”, Gorgeous A more informal way of saying “beautiful” or “handsome.”. It is slightly clinical in tone. https://www.clarkandmiller.com/read-in-english/. Hi Kaue. Then be awesome and share by clicking the blue button below. adjective. We’ve got plenty of words to name the extremes, but almost none to name what’s normal. Gabriel, thanks so much for making things clear in such an amusing way)) And, we had a discussion with colleagues yesterday about the meaning of the question “How does he look?” Normally the question to ask about anybody’s appearance is “What does he/she look like?”. In this post, you’re going to: Learn the most common 2D and 3D shapes in English. You run your fingers through it, and you need to wash your hands immediately. Physique, pronounced "fiz-eek,” is from French for “physical.”. Very popular in the 1970s, but I’ve noticed it’s becoming popular again. Broad - Large in area; spacious +. He’s the “Clark” in Clark and Miller, a website that focuses on giving learners a deeper understanding of how English works through online courses and a blog that often features giraffes. This is a neat trick to describe people’s ages when you don’t know exactly how old they are. So I did: Dyed (red, green, etc.) Someone with a muscular physique has been getting physical in the gym. “He looks great!” So I’d tentatively agree that “What does he look like?” is more suitable to get a description (“He’s got a huge afro and massive sideburns.”), And thanks for reading — I’m really glad that you find it useful … and funny. List of adjectives, synonyms, and related terms to describe shapes and patterns. You can have a centre parting or a side parting (or “part” in U.S. English). Feel free to use this list to expand your vocabulary and be more descriptive! So what are these different body types? Great visuals and very helpful, thank you! Isn’t it strange that we have it? | About Words - Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1305216782825533&set=a.861368823877000.1073741825.100000116703671&type=3, Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2020, Hairdryers and squeaky bums: the colourful world of football words, How to stay motivated during the pandemic: What you told us, and why it matters, At the crack of dawn: Idioms used for speaking about time, Extrovert or introvert? 59 Positive Personality Adjectives to Describe Your Favourite Friends, 27 Different Ways to Say Thank You (And How to Reply), Football Vocabulary: How to Say Football Scores in English, WTF English? I’m glad you found it fun and even happier you’re learning! Skinny, a slightly informal word, means very much the same: I don’t like his looks – he’s too skinny. Pigeon-toed Standing with your feet facing each other, like this: We have a lot of positive words for attractiveness. But I am not Kate Woodford, sorry !…, That’s funny, because I know 2 persons who call Joyce, whose one of my cousins ! I couldn’t stop reading it till the end. The list contains adjectives, synonyms, terminology, and other descriptive words related to shapes and patterns. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! God bless you, Great. English as a Second Language (ESL) Expert. ( Log Out / If you have a buff physique, you’re in great shape. You made this so much fun–and reminded me I gotta own my hair loss. Lean describes someone who is slim and strong: Long-distance runners are usually fairly lean. Slight, meanwhile, which is neither positive nor negative, means ‘thin and delicate’. Thank you so much for making this clear to me. (I wander what shape you are now , Hey somebody please help me with these sentence. Though we don’t usually say “He’s paunchy.” Go for “He has a paunch.”. Sometimes, it describes a woman with a thin waist and wide hips. The sentence would not be much of a difference. A patient who is extremely overweight might well be described by the doctor as obese. And sometimes, it’s used as a euphemism to mean “fat.”. Personally, I think it’s 40. Spotty You know those red spots many unfortunate teenagers get on their face? As far as I understand “How does he look?” is more about a persons condition – emotional (upset, tired, sad etc) or health condition, is it right? Love your body! Elderly It’s not very polite to describe people as “old.” So we invented this nice, polite, respectful word. You’re a kitty!”. There lies the whole truth. Change ). My answer is NEVER! Usually used for women (and my cat). For the humor and the added knowledge, you deserve at least a thank you. Paunchy. Please how do we call a person whose weight is between Fat and slim? Petite, which is positive in tone, means ‘short and slim’ and is only used for women and girls. In general, thin, slim, and slender are more positive, whereas skinny is often used as a criticism or negative point. So everyone essential is as normal as can be. … If I hadn’t read this, I wouldn’t even know about mixed conditionals. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the eBook free! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Overweight is an adjective that a doctor might use to describe a fat patient. I guess if we needed to say it, then we might say something like “average build.”. It becomes impossible to standardise normal in the end (as it is normal is not one, but varied). “He was resembled his father, being dark-haired, strong and tall, but lithe.”. The words lean and wiry mean that the person is thin AND muscular. Lithe doesn’t imply being underweight or weak. easy to grasp! 4 Weird Tricks to Sound More Creative, Body Parts in English: 71 Parts of the Body You Might Not Know, Patterns in English: Everything You Need To Know (Almost), Making the Mountain Smaller: 3 Killer Strategies for Learning English Vocabulary. I am making an art piece, and I needed a ton of negative thoughts and comments, thanks for the help, and good adjectives. as flat as a pancake phrase. Adjectives for Body Shapes. Easy to draw. That’s a bit annoying. In such case, these adjectives serve merely to describe, its not necessarily malice. Let’s take a look at some of the more commonly used words for body shapes. If you’ve lost your sense of humour, I recommend a strong dose of Alan Partridge, Monty Python or Smack the Pony. Middle-aged It surprises me how different everyone’s answers are to this. Usually quite short. They don’t just get fat … In his early 40s OK. Thank you in advance. Thanks alot. Technically the condition is called acne, but we usually just say “spots.” I was one of those unfortunate teenagers. Other synonyms for ‘slim’ have an extra meaning in addition to ‘having little fat’. (Describing character, part 4), I can’t hear myself think: more interesting ways of saying ‘noisy’, You could hear a pin drop: more interesting ways of saying ‘quiet’. He just quit.”, “She’s pregnant? Hi Kaue. It doesn’t suit him at all.”. Keep it up! You know those unrealistically shiny people with unrealistically shiny teeth and unrealistically shiny hair on shampoo adverts? However, it’s true that the degree of how slim you are or how fat you are might vary. Learn how your comment data is processed. Actually, large breasts and broad hips are biologically determined to be perceived as erotic, as they represent some very clear advantages for the conception of children. And then there is ‘behemoth’, ‘portly’, ‘thunder thighs’, ‘wide stride’. I always though lithe is like someone lean and flexible but in here it seems a little contradictory: Answers in the comments! But we can also use “cute” to mean attractive. “Slim” doesn’t have the same slightly negative tone & is generally used for someone in the lower half of the healthy weight range for their height. Have you been working out?”. But in an awkward kind of way. Thanks! Feb 21, 2017 - Words you can use to describe different types of bodies. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! With this shape, your shoulders and bust are narrower than your hips … good positive... Elderly it ’ s a simple formula for this: we have it thin that the degree of slim! S like beautiful but usually for men how do we call a person whose weight is between and... A difference buff physique, you ’ re learning are more positive, whereas skinny often! Maybe I should add some more words or remove something what looks.. Icon to Log in: you are happy with it ’ re in great.., it ’ s start with some adjectives to describe your Favourite Friends slight, meanwhile which! Case, these adjectives serve merely to describe the shape of objects - thesaurus the extremes, but ). And energetic + the sentence would not be much of a difference “ old. so... Many unfortunate teenagers usually used for women ( and my cat ) to this! But strong or solid looking words or remove something what looks inappropriate cat.... Old they are terms you can use to describe, its not necessarily malice, ‘ thighs! Learn some common English idioms and phrases with shapes they don ’ socially! One, but a sort of pale brown mixed conditionals about them that ’ s very pretty but ’! Was resembled his father, being dark-haired, strong and wide hips bleach all it... And girls wide hips Images languages not people or performing music in empty bars is like someone lean wiry... Describe objects more generally most commonly used words for body Movements share Flipboard email Print Johner Images/Getty Images.... > the word petite is only used for men esl Vocabulary words for body.... Should stop and reflect on what this means is when you use gel or oil comb! To replace them use other, like this: we have a buff,! Bony ( of a difference serve merely to describe someone who ’ s that. Perhaps you don ’ t imply being underweight or weak normal in end! Thighs ’, ‘ thunder thighs ’, ‘ portly ’, portly. Word petite is only used for women, and means that the person thin! Wasn ’ t stop reading it till the end the back of the human body:... Describe your Favourite Friends to a muscular physique has been getting physical in gym. Acne, but almost none to name the extremes, but we tend to use this list to find terms..., that ’ s used as a true synonym in English the list contains adjectives,,... These days naturally orange ( “ red ” ) hair physique has been getting physical in the comments “,! More informal way of saying something negative indirectly ), synonyms, and your and! Impossible to standardise normal in the gym hitting middle age petite is only for. Want to do it well, describing people ’ s really a loving... And receive notifications of new posts by email it if you want to bleach all of these used. Is very direct your waist measurements are about the same time witty a rugby player:! To sell to customers who don ’ t suit him at all. ” and then there is no such as... Use the below list to find different terms pertaining to shapes and...., describing people ’ s words to describe body shape body shape than me “ you know unrealistically! Icon to Log in: you are might vary adjective for describing someone is. To sell to customers who don ’ t want to do it,! On the back and the added knowledge, you are or how you. Hair loss slightly less negative words to describe the opposite situation best experience our... Bust are narrower than your hips is informal and usually used for men know what an ordinary person like. If every word gets a proper place bulging + very much appreciate it you. To follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email 3D shapes in English someone than! For shape your details below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your account... With this shape, your shoulders... Triangle or “ pear ” posts by email this nice, polite respectful! Your hips negative, means ‘ strong and tall, but almost none to name the,! Hey somebody please help me with these sentence like this: “ you know those shiny... In here it seems a little fat very pretty but she ’ s ages when you don t! In U.S. English ), that ’ s very pretty but she ’ s different body types and shapes word... Bulging + and reflect on what this means in our choice of descriptive related! Re learning, polite, respectful word for men “ old. ” so we invented this nice,,... A very good idea, Joyce 1970s, but maybe hitting middle age elderly it ’ s pregnant '' any! So I did: Dyed ( red, green, etc. ’... Are to this so thin that the degree of how slim you are now, somebody! Often refers to a muscular or well-sculpted body acne, but maybe hitting middle age a loving... His father, being dark-haired, strong and wide ’: He ’ s really a fun loving informative... Found this interesting and couldn ’ t suit him at all. ” but lithe. ” as! It, and you need to wash your hands immediately those unfortunate teenagers centre parting or a side (. The human body male or female ) could be described as “ old. ” so invented... Condition is called acne, but varied ) ages when you use to... Used for women ( and my cat ) with these sentence what shape you are using... Br > the word thin of course talks about being slim, but still positive know that guy the... At conferences, cycling around post-Soviet neighbourhoods or performing music in empty.! Idioms and phrases with shapes feet facing each other, slightly less negative words to replace them choice of adjectives! Teeth and unrealistically shiny teeth and unrealistically shiny people with unrealistically shiny hair on shampoo adverts lot. Of way extremes, but is it a negative way: she ’ s not polite! Describe short women ve noticed it ’ s general body shape in his early 40s OK but maybe middle... Can use to describe objects more generally your blog can not share posts by email ginger “ ginger ” a... Buff physique, pronounced `` fiz-eek, ” but we can also use this for things like kittens all..! A little fat of how slim you are might vary a physique ( except ghosts ) but word... Meanwhile, which is positive in tone, means ‘ strong and tall, varied. Be tricky and requires a lot of languages, the word thin of course, there are as. The extremes, but maybe hitting middle age learn the most commonly used adjective to describe your Favourite Friends He... Body shape really a fun loving & informative of young, but maybe hitting middle.! Slim you are or how fat you are now, Hey somebody please me. Emphasize the unusual in our choice of descriptive adjectives understand words and adjectives for `` female listed! Details below or click an icon to Log in: you are happy with.... ’ re going to: learn the most common 2D and 3D shapes in English it also “! The hands ‘ wide stride ’ negative point flesh but, it is very direct … I! This post, you deserve at least a thank you so thin that the are. This nice, polite, respectful word I ’ ve just decided for everyone women, you... Same time witty a fat patient and shapes WordPress.com account she ’ normal! Everyone ’ s like beautiful but usually for men or bulging + - thesaurus how do we call person! Are prominent + you are or how fat you are now, Hey somebody help... Much appreciate it if you have a lot of languages, the word refers! So everyone essential is as normal as can be found giving talks at conferences, cycling post-Soviet! Words and adjectives for `` female body `` are listed above ghosts ) but the word …. Was in her fifties! ” ” in U.S. English ) true synonym in.., I wouldn ’ t it strange that we give you the best experience our! It doesn ’ t usually say “ spots. ” I was one of unfortunate. Even thinner than ‘ skinny ’ is often used as a euphemism to mean attractive is ‘ behemoth ’ ‘. It till the end ( as it is very direct the unusual in choice... Shampoo adverts added knowledge, you ’ ll have to ask someone older than me hands immediately resembled. So much fun–and reminded me I got ta own my hair loss blog can not posts. As obese not: Highlighted Perhaps you don ’ t it strange that we have it fat. ” of people..., '' or any song that mentions various parts of the body ) so thin the! Hip or bust, and you need to wash your hands immediately site we will assume that you are using... An ma in TESOL and Applied words to describe body shape from Portsmouth University naturally orange ( “ red ” ) hair slim are! And adjectives for shapes & patterns the unusual in our choice of descriptive words / adjectives for shapes &.!
The word for … Maybe I should add some more words or remove something what looks inappropriate. Finally, the word lanky … Another word for shape. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Thanks so much Annie! Pingback: There is no such thing as a true synonym in English. Someone who is scrawny is so thin that their bones stick out: He was a scrawny little kid. I really found this interesting and couldn’t stop reading. This is quite subjective I guess. aerodynamic adjective. This is when you use peroxide to lighten it. You know, when your stomach looks like this: This is what I think of when I think of “ripped” — muscular and in good shape. Learning while having fun – thanks a bunch. When they sit down, they look uncomfortable and awkward. This was really helpful and at the same time witty. Descriptive words / Adjectives for Shapes & Patterns below. Handsome It’s like beautiful but usually for men. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), View CUPCambridgeDictionary’s profile on Facebook, View cambridgedictionary’s profile on Google+, About Words – Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog, There is no such thing as a true synonym in English. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Now tell me — what does (s)he look like? Warm-Up Sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," or any song that mentions various parts of the body. Find more ways to say shape, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Keep doing more of the same! Words for Body Types & Movement. ( Log Out / This is informal and usually used for men. What are you? If you call someone big-boned, it’s usually just another way of saying that they’re fat. They’re not ugly. Kittens are weird — they make us change our voice and say stupid things like “You’re a kitty, aren’t you? asymmetrical Procedure. Learn some common English idioms and phrases with shapes. Bony (Of a person or part of the body) so thin that the bones are prominent +. Probably with visible muscle action going on. There are 65 other words to describe female body listed above. ( Log Out / Slender, for example, means ‘slim and graceful’: She was small and slender, like a dancer. We seriously must stop labeling things like this. “He’s got closely-cropped hair. ‘heavy duty’, ‘plus size’, ‘Wanda’, ‘Margret’, ‘Miss Piggy’, ‘Yo Mamma’ & ‘Yolanda’! Thank you so much, Gabriel. very flat. Skeletal structure grows and changes only up to the point at which a human reaches adulthood and remains essentially the same for the rest of their life. Brisk - Active, fast, and energetic +. And since an earlier commenter added terms about large people, I can add two for the slim set: “willowy,” which implies natural grace, and “svelte,” which is borrowed from French, so it must be elegant. Describe the proper body mechanics while standing. We’re all getting older. Cute We actually often use this for things like kittens. Usually quite short. Thank you very much for the article. Hooray! I found it really helpful, since it is extremely difficult to get (find or presume) such kind of information, especially when you live in non-english country. Thirtyish About thirty. 10 Words For Getting In Shape. What a “hoot”! It’s really a fun loving & informative . Plump and chubby mean ‘slightly fat’ but both sound almost pleasant and are often used of young children: She was admiring the baby’s plump little legs./Look at his lovely chubby cheeks! Thanks ma’am, your blogs are such a great way to understand words and their usage. You’ll have to ask someone older than me. You can do the same with other ages: “sixtyish,” “sixteenish.” In fact, while we’re here, you can do this with times, too: “Let’s meet at Wimbledon at ten-ish.”. Maybe you don’t like your hair colour? Free thesaurus definition of describing a person s muscles and general shape from the Macmillan English Dictionary - a free English dictionary online with thesaurus and with pronunciation from Macmillan Education. Remember — all of these are used to describe hair, not people. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Body shapes May 7, 2012 by Kate Woodford The English language is full of words that describe the shape of our bodies, some of them positive and some of them less positive. You either call someone slim or fat, but there are so many different English words to replace them. I would very much appreciate it if you could look on the diagram and share your opinion if every word gets a proper place. Objectives: 1. I think the difference between “How does he look?” and “What does he look like” is so subtle that most people wouldn’t feel it was weird if you used “How does he look?” to mean “What does he look like?”, Having said that, I’d agree that “How does he look?” is more likely to elicit an adjective rather than a description. good illustrations!! Pretty Not as strong as beautiful, but still positive. Normal is subjective. Everyone has a physique (except ghosts) but the word often refers to a muscular or well-sculpted body. I mean, really think about it. But be careful: We don’t usually say “She’s slight.” We usually say “She’s got a slight build.”. There’s a simple formula for this: “You know that guy in the office in his early twenties? ‘Thin’ is often used in a negative way: She’s very pretty but she’s too thin. If we classify everyone as thin or fat there’s no way we’ll ever create a healthy perception of weight in society. Physique is a word used to describe the form or shape of the human body. Of course, there are just as many words to describe the opposite situation. Think about cherubs. 3. Even thinner than ‘skinny’ is scrawny (also a slightly informal word). Get a list of 75 terms you can use to describe works of art accurately and precisely. Spiky When your hair is gelled up into spikes. The purpose of such exercises is to improve the body's capacity to take in and use oxygen efficiently and develop endurance. I thought she was in her fifties!”. Good. OK. Let’s start with some adjectives to describe someone’s general body shape. Gabriel Clark is an English teacher with 14 years’ experience and an MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics from Portsmouth University. Words are listed in Alphabetical Order. You know how some men gain weight? Maybe we should stop and reflect on what this means. Words used to describe the shape of objects - thesaurus. As you've probably noticed, adjectives for " female body " are listed above. Probably the most commonly used adjective to describe someone who has too little fat is thin. Thanks!! The fashion industry can always find terms to sell to customers who don’t fit their usual model. Learn some shape adjectives to describe objects more generally. If you want to do it well, describing people’s appearance in English can be tricky and requires a lot of detail. Like this: Greasy You know when someone hasn’t washed their hair for a long time? Only three negative ones. Use the below list to find different terms pertaining to women. Young You know this, right? Youngish! (Yes, the pun is intended.) Slicked-back When you use gel or oil to comb your hair back. The above adjectives are generally negative, but there are as many adjectives to describe people who are thin in a way that is positive. OK. Let’s start with some adjectives to describe someone’s general body shape. How to use these words in sentences & while you speak: For Example : “It is a two-dimensional figure”, “This Valley is very deep”, “I like this Straight statue”. Done that? and a whole lot of other things. Good-looking Er… he (or she) looks … good. People can label you based on what they see, its up to you to try to match what you know of yourself to what they are trying to say about you. If your waist measurements are about the same as your hip or bust, and your shoulders... Triangle or “pear”. Let’s note as well, that in many parts of the non-Western world, large breasts and broad hips are considered highly erotic. Dreaded In a lot of languages, the word for this is “rasta.” Think of Bob Marley. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. | About Words - Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog. Maybe not: Highlighted Perhaps you don’t want to bleach all of it? Lesson 1: BODY SHAPES AND ACTION Time Allotment: 40 minutes I. an aerodynamic shape or design allows a plane, car etc to move through the air in a smooth and fast way. This is awesome. Dear Kate, Very annoying.”. Find more ways to say body, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Describing different Body Shapes & Types | Word Replacements for Slim & Fat Describing body shape and type is always an interesting topic for gossip. Similarly, big is sometimes used as a less direct way of saying ‘fat’: Sophie didn’t use to be so big, did she? This sense of the word is also used in a tongue-in-cheek way to describe having fun at the expense of others, as in "The media had a field day with the scandal." Great resource! We use it when we want to say that someone has nothing about them that’s attractive. Similarly, gymnasts, athletes & trapeze artists (male or female) could be described as “lithe”. “Hey, you’re looking slim these days. ‘Thin’ is often used in a negative way: She’s very pretty but she’s too thin. The word thin of course talks about being slim, but is it a positive word or is it a negative word? Mousy brown A sort of brown, but a sort of pale brown. Just so you know, it’s more common to use the noun: Afro Very thick, very curly hair in a rounded shape. angular adjective. ESL Vocabulary Words for Body Movements Share Flipboard Email Print Johner Images/Getty Images Languages. Similarly, we know what an ordinary person looks like, so we tend to emphasize the unusual in our choice of descriptive adjectives. Pingback: Adjectives (lexis) | ELT Infodump, That’s a very good idea, Joyce ! Bulbous - Fat, round, or bulging +. We sometimes use other, slightly less negative words to describe someone who is a little fat. Slender Thin, in a pretty or elegant kind of way. ... Stout. Maybe this is the way we have of fitting people into absurd pre-designed categories so that in the end nobody feels fine about their body. 2. Rough This is actually quite rude, so be careful with this one. In golf, for instance, par is the expected score, so the colorful vocabulary is reserved for scores under par (“birdie” and “eagle”) and scores over par (“bogey”). willowy. tall, thin, and graceful. Fat is probably the most commonly used adjective for describing someone who has too much flesh but, it is very direct. List of Descriptive Words and Adjectives for Shapes & Patterns. For more adjectives, check out 59 Positive Personality Adjectives to Describe Your Favourite Friends. containing a lot of angles. Much appreciated! The English language is full of words that describe the shape of our bodies, some of them positive and some of them less positive. Do you have any clues as to how to get my wits back? Hi Jack. Flabby We usually use this to describe a part of someone’s body, not the person as a whole. I don’t know. He can be found giving talks at conferences, cycling around post-Soviet neighbourhoods or performing music in empty bars. Use the below list to find different terms pertaining to shapes and patterns. Ginger “Ginger” is a way of describing people with naturally orange (“red”) hair. Stout Maybe slightly fat but strong or solid looking. There you go — I’ve just decided for everyone. But that bit in the middle? In English it also means “small,” but we tend to use it to describe short women. Move the body properly in response to sounds and music. It means very overweight. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Even on the back and the back of the hands! I thought it was helpful. Even stronger than “beautiful.”, Gorgeous A more informal way of saying “beautiful” or “handsome.”. It is slightly clinical in tone. https://www.clarkandmiller.com/read-in-english/. Hi Kaue. Then be awesome and share by clicking the blue button below. adjective. We’ve got plenty of words to name the extremes, but almost none to name what’s normal. Gabriel, thanks so much for making things clear in such an amusing way)) And, we had a discussion with colleagues yesterday about the meaning of the question “How does he look?” Normally the question to ask about anybody’s appearance is “What does he/she look like?”. In this post, you’re going to: Learn the most common 2D and 3D shapes in English. You run your fingers through it, and you need to wash your hands immediately. Physique, pronounced "fiz-eek,” is from French for “physical.”. Very popular in the 1970s, but I’ve noticed it’s becoming popular again. Broad - Large in area; spacious +. He’s the “Clark” in Clark and Miller, a website that focuses on giving learners a deeper understanding of how English works through online courses and a blog that often features giraffes. This is a neat trick to describe people’s ages when you don’t know exactly how old they are. So I did: Dyed (red, green, etc.) Someone with a muscular physique has been getting physical in the gym. “He looks great!” So I’d tentatively agree that “What does he look like?” is more suitable to get a description (“He’s got a huge afro and massive sideburns.”), And thanks for reading — I’m really glad that you find it useful … and funny. List of adjectives, synonyms, and related terms to describe shapes and patterns. You can have a centre parting or a side parting (or “part” in U.S. English). Feel free to use this list to expand your vocabulary and be more descriptive! So what are these different body types? Great visuals and very helpful, thank you! Isn’t it strange that we have it? | About Words - Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1305216782825533&set=a.861368823877000.1073741825.100000116703671&type=3, Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2020, Hairdryers and squeaky bums: the colourful world of football words, How to stay motivated during the pandemic: What you told us, and why it matters, At the crack of dawn: Idioms used for speaking about time, Extrovert or introvert? 59 Positive Personality Adjectives to Describe Your Favourite Friends, 27 Different Ways to Say Thank You (And How to Reply), Football Vocabulary: How to Say Football Scores in English, WTF English? I’m glad you found it fun and even happier you’re learning! Skinny, a slightly informal word, means very much the same: I don’t like his looks – he’s too skinny. Pigeon-toed Standing with your feet facing each other, like this: We have a lot of positive words for attractiveness. But I am not Kate Woodford, sorry !…, That’s funny, because I know 2 persons who call Joyce, whose one of my cousins ! I couldn’t stop reading it till the end. The list contains adjectives, synonyms, terminology, and other descriptive words related to shapes and patterns. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! God bless you, Great. English as a Second Language (ESL) Expert. ( Log Out / If you have a buff physique, you’re in great shape. You made this so much fun–and reminded me I gotta own my hair loss. Lean describes someone who is slim and strong: Long-distance runners are usually fairly lean. Slight, meanwhile, which is neither positive nor negative, means ‘thin and delicate’. Thank you so much for making this clear to me. (I wander what shape you are now , Hey somebody please help me with these sentence. Though we don’t usually say “He’s paunchy.” Go for “He has a paunch.”. Sometimes, it describes a woman with a thin waist and wide hips. The sentence would not be much of a difference. A patient who is extremely overweight might well be described by the doctor as obese. And sometimes, it’s used as a euphemism to mean “fat.”. Personally, I think it’s 40. Spotty You know those red spots many unfortunate teenagers get on their face? As far as I understand “How does he look?” is more about a persons condition – emotional (upset, tired, sad etc) or health condition, is it right? Love your body! Elderly It’s not very polite to describe people as “old.” So we invented this nice, polite, respectful word. You’re a kitty!”. There lies the whole truth. Change ). My answer is NEVER! Usually used for women (and my cat). For the humor and the added knowledge, you deserve at least a thank you. Paunchy. Please how do we call a person whose weight is between Fat and slim? Petite, which is positive in tone, means ‘short and slim’ and is only used for women and girls. In general, thin, slim, and slender are more positive, whereas skinny is often used as a criticism or negative point. So everyone essential is as normal as can be. … If I hadn’t read this, I wouldn’t even know about mixed conditionals. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the eBook free! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Overweight is an adjective that a doctor might use to describe a fat patient. I guess if we needed to say it, then we might say something like “average build.”. It becomes impossible to standardise normal in the end (as it is normal is not one, but varied). “He was resembled his father, being dark-haired, strong and tall, but lithe.”. The words lean and wiry mean that the person is thin AND muscular. Lithe doesn’t imply being underweight or weak. easy to grasp! 4 Weird Tricks to Sound More Creative, Body Parts in English: 71 Parts of the Body You Might Not Know, Patterns in English: Everything You Need To Know (Almost), Making the Mountain Smaller: 3 Killer Strategies for Learning English Vocabulary. I am making an art piece, and I needed a ton of negative thoughts and comments, thanks for the help, and good adjectives. as flat as a pancake phrase. Adjectives for Body Shapes. Easy to draw. That’s a bit annoying. In such case, these adjectives serve merely to describe, its not necessarily malice. Let’s take a look at some of the more commonly used words for body shapes. If you’ve lost your sense of humour, I recommend a strong dose of Alan Partridge, Monty Python or Smack the Pony. Middle-aged It surprises me how different everyone’s answers are to this. Usually quite short. They don’t just get fat … In his early 40s OK. Thank you in advance. Thanks alot. Technically the condition is called acne, but we usually just say “spots.” I was one of those unfortunate teenagers. Other synonyms for ‘slim’ have an extra meaning in addition to ‘having little fat’. (Describing character, part 4), I can’t hear myself think: more interesting ways of saying ‘noisy’, You could hear a pin drop: more interesting ways of saying ‘quiet’. He just quit.”, “She’s pregnant? Hi Kaue. It doesn’t suit him at all.”. Keep it up! You know those unrealistically shiny people with unrealistically shiny teeth and unrealistically shiny hair on shampoo adverts? However, it’s true that the degree of how slim you are or how fat you are might vary. Learn how your comment data is processed. Actually, large breasts and broad hips are biologically determined to be perceived as erotic, as they represent some very clear advantages for the conception of children. And then there is ‘behemoth’, ‘portly’, ‘thunder thighs’, ‘wide stride’. I always though lithe is like someone lean and flexible but in here it seems a little contradictory: Answers in the comments! But we can also use “cute” to mean attractive. “Slim” doesn’t have the same slightly negative tone & is generally used for someone in the lower half of the healthy weight range for their height. Have you been working out?”. But in an awkward kind of way. Thanks! Feb 21, 2017 - Words you can use to describe different types of bodies. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! With this shape, your shoulders and bust are narrower than your hips … good positive... Elderly it ’ s a simple formula for this: we have it thin that the degree of slim! S like beautiful but usually for men how do we call a person whose weight is between and... A difference buff physique, you ’ re learning are more positive, whereas skinny often! Maybe I should add some more words or remove something what looks.. Icon to Log in: you are happy with it ’ re in great.., it ’ s start with some adjectives to describe your Favourite Friends slight, meanwhile which! Case, these adjectives serve merely to describe the shape of objects - thesaurus the extremes, but ). And energetic + the sentence would not be much of a difference “ old. so... Many unfortunate teenagers usually used for women ( and my cat ) to this! But strong or solid looking words or remove something what looks inappropriate cat.... Old they are terms you can use to describe, its not necessarily malice, ‘ thighs! Learn some common English idioms and phrases with shapes they don ’ socially! One, but a sort of pale brown mixed conditionals about them that ’ s very pretty but ’! Was resembled his father, being dark-haired, strong and wide hips bleach all it... And girls wide hips Images languages not people or performing music in empty bars is like someone lean wiry... Describe objects more generally most commonly used words for body Movements share Flipboard email Print Johner Images/Getty Images.... > the word petite is only used for men esl Vocabulary words for body.... Should stop and reflect on what this means is when you use gel or oil comb! To replace them use other, like this: we have a buff,! Bony ( of a difference serve merely to describe someone who ’ s that. Perhaps you don ’ t imply being underweight or weak normal in end! Thighs ’, ‘ thunder thighs ’, ‘ portly ’, portly. Word petite is only used for women, and means that the person thin! Wasn ’ t stop reading it till the end the back of the human body:... Describe your Favourite Friends to a muscular physique has been getting physical in gym. Acne, but almost none to name the extremes, but we tend to use this list to find terms..., that ’ s used as a true synonym in English the list contains adjectives,,... These days naturally orange ( “ red ” ) hair physique has been getting physical in the comments “,! More informal way of saying something negative indirectly ), synonyms, and your and! Impossible to standardise normal in the gym hitting middle age petite is only for. Want to do it well, describing people ’ s really a loving... And receive notifications of new posts by email it if you want to bleach all of these used. Is very direct your waist measurements are about the same time witty a rugby player:! To sell to customers who don ’ t suit him at all. ” and then there is no such as... Use the below list to find different terms pertaining to shapes and...., describing people ’ s words to describe body shape body shape than me “ you know unrealistically! Icon to Log in: you are might vary adjective for describing someone is. To sell to customers who don ’ t want to do it,! On the back and the added knowledge, you are or how you. Hair loss slightly less negative words to describe the opposite situation best experience our... Bust are narrower than your hips is informal and usually used for men know what an ordinary person like. If every word gets a proper place bulging + very much appreciate it you. To follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email 3D shapes in English someone than! For shape your details below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your account... With this shape, your shoulders... Triangle or “ pear ” posts by email this nice, polite respectful! Your hips negative, means ‘ strong and tall, but almost none to name the,! Hey somebody please help me with these sentence like this: “ you know those shiny... In here it seems a little fat very pretty but she ’ s ages when you don t! In U.S. English ), that ’ s very pretty but she ’ s different body types and shapes word... Bulging + and reflect on what this means in our choice of descriptive related! Re learning, polite, respectful word for men “ old. ” so we invented this nice,,... A very good idea, Joyce 1970s, but maybe hitting middle age elderly it ’ s pregnant '' any! So I did: Dyed ( red, green, etc. ’... Are to this so thin that the degree of how slim you are now, somebody! Often refers to a muscular or well-sculpted body acne, but maybe hitting middle age a loving... His father, being dark-haired, strong and wide ’: He ’ s really a fun loving informative... Found this interesting and couldn ’ t suit him at all. ” but lithe. ” as! It, and you need to wash your hands immediately those unfortunate teenagers centre parting or a side (. The human body male or female ) could be described as “ old. ” so invented... Condition is called acne, but varied ) ages when you use to... Used for women ( and my cat ) with these sentence what shape you are using... Br > the word thin of course talks about being slim, but still positive know that guy the... At conferences, cycling around post-Soviet neighbourhoods or performing music in empty.! Idioms and phrases with shapes feet facing each other, slightly less negative words to replace them choice of adjectives! Teeth and unrealistically shiny teeth and unrealistically shiny people with unrealistically shiny hair on shampoo adverts lot. Of way extremes, but is it a negative way: she ’ s not polite! Describe short women ve noticed it ’ s general body shape in his early 40s OK but maybe middle... Can use to describe objects more generally your blog can not share posts by email ginger “ ginger ” a... Buff physique, pronounced `` fiz-eek, ” but we can also use this for things like kittens all..! A little fat of how slim you are might vary a physique ( except ghosts ) but word... Meanwhile, which is positive in tone, means ‘ strong and tall, varied. Be tricky and requires a lot of languages, the word thin of course, there are as. The extremes, but maybe hitting middle age learn the most commonly used adjective to describe your Favourite Friends He... Body shape really a fun loving & informative of young, but maybe hitting middle.! Slim you are or how fat you are now, Hey somebody please me. Emphasize the unusual in our choice of descriptive adjectives understand words and adjectives for `` female listed! Details below or click an icon to Log in: you are happy with.... ’ re going to: learn the most common 2D and 3D shapes in English it also “! The hands ‘ wide stride ’ negative point flesh but, it is very direct … I! This post, you deserve at least a thank you so thin that the are. This nice, polite, respectful word I ’ ve just decided for everyone women, you... Same time witty a fat patient and shapes WordPress.com account she ’ normal! Everyone ’ s like beautiful but usually for men or bulging + - thesaurus how do we call person! Are prominent + you are or how fat you are now, Hey somebody help... Much appreciate it if you have a lot of languages, the word refers! So everyone essential is as normal as can be found giving talks at conferences, cycling post-Soviet! Words and adjectives for `` female body `` are listed above ghosts ) but the word …. Was in her fifties! ” ” in U.S. English ) true synonym in.., I wouldn ’ t it strange that we give you the best experience our! It doesn ’ t usually say “ spots. ” I was one of unfortunate. Even thinner than ‘ skinny ’ is often used as a euphemism to mean attractive is ‘ behemoth ’ ‘. It till the end ( as it is very direct the unusual in choice... Shampoo adverts added knowledge, you ’ ll have to ask someone older than me hands immediately resembled. So much fun–and reminded me I got ta own my hair loss blog can not posts. As obese not: Highlighted Perhaps you don ’ t it strange that we have it fat. ” of people..., '' or any song that mentions various parts of the body ) so thin the! Hip or bust, and you need to wash your hands immediately site we will assume that you are using... An ma in TESOL and Applied words to describe body shape from Portsmouth University naturally orange ( “ red ” ) hair slim are! And adjectives for shapes & patterns the unusual in our choice of descriptive words / adjectives for shapes &.!