Appearance Vocabulary in English

Enhance your descriptive skills with Appearance Vocabulary in English. Learn essential words for physical features, clothing, height, and overall looks. Perfect for beginners, this set helps you describe people naturally and confidently in everyday conversations.

Talking about appearance helps you describe people clearly, politely, and accurately in daily conversations. GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition method ensures these descriptive words stay in your long-term memory.

Below is a curated preview from GuruLango’s Appearance in English vocabulary collection.

1. Appearance

These words describe a person’s general physical appearance.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

appearance

əˈpɪə.rəns

overall look

look

lʊk

physical impression

attractive

əˈtræk.tɪv

visually pleasing

handsome

ˈhæn.səm

good-looking (male)

beautiful

ˈbjuː.tɪ.fəl

very attractive

neat

niːt

clean and tidy

stylish

ˈstaɪ.lɪʃ

fashionable

casual

ˈkæʒ.u.əl

informal style

elegant

ˈel.ɪ.ɡənt

refined look

presentable

prɪˈzen.tə.bəl

suitable appearance

2. Build

Use these words to describe body size and physical structure.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

slim

slɪm

thin build

thin

θɪn

low body weight

muscular

ˈmʌs.kjʊ.lər

well-built

athletic

æθˈlet.ɪk

sporty build

stocky

ˈstɒk.i

solid and short

curvy

ˈkɜː.vi

rounded figure

overweight

ˌəʊ.vəˈweɪt

above healthy weight

plump

plʌmp

slightly fat

broad-shouldered

brɔːd ˈʃəʊl.dəd

wide shoulders

petite

pəˈtiːt

small and slight

3. Age

These terms help describe age in a neutral and polite way.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

young

jʌŋ

not old

middle-aged

ˌmɪd.əl ˈeɪdʒd

around middle age

elderly

ˈel.də.li

old

teenager

ˈtiːnˌeɪ.dʒər

age 13–19

adult

ˈæd.ʌlt

grown person

senior

ˈsiː.njər

older adult

child

tʃaɪld

young person

youthful

ˈjuːθ.fəl

young-looking

mature

məˈtʃʊər

fully developed

aging

ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ

getting older

4. Hair

These words describe hair length, style, and condition.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

short hair

ʃɔːt heər

short hairstyle

long hair

lɒŋ heər

long hairstyle

curly

ˈkɜː.li

wavy hair

straight

streɪt

not curly

wavy

ˈweɪ.vi

soft curls

dyed

daɪd

colored hair

blonde

blɒnd

light hair color

brunette

bruːˈnet

brown hair

bald

bɔːld

no hair

ponytail

ˈpəʊ.ni.teɪl

tied-back hair

5. Skin

Use these words to describe skin tone and texture.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

fair

feər

light skin

tan

tæn

sun-darkened skin

dark

dɑːk

deep skin tone

smooth

smuːð

soft texture

oily

ˈɔɪ.li

greasy skin

dry

draɪ

lacking moisture

sensitive

ˈsen.sɪ.tɪv

easily irritated

clear

klɪər

free of blemishes

pale

peɪl

very light skin

freckled

ˈfrek.əld

spotted skin

6. Cosmetics

These words refer to common makeup and beauty items.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

makeup

ˈmeɪk.ʌp

cosmetic products

lipstick

ˈlɪp.stɪk

lip color

foundation

faʊnˈdeɪ.ʃən

base makeup

mascara

mæsˈkɑː.rə

eyelash makeup

blush

blʌʃ

cheek color

eyeliner

ˈaɪˌlaɪ.nər

eye makeup

powder

ˈpaʊ.dər

face powder

skincare

ˈskɪn.keər

skin products

perfume

ˈpɜː.fjuːm

fragrance

makeup remover

ˈmeɪk.ʌp rɪˈmuː.vər

makeup cleaner

7. Color

These color terms help describe clothes and physical features.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

black

blæk

dark color

white

waɪt

light color

red

red

warm color

blue

bluː

cool color

green

ɡriːn

natural color

yellow

ˈjel.əʊ

bright color

pink

pɪŋk

soft red

brown

braʊn

earth color

gray

ɡreɪ

neutral color

colorful

ˈkʌl.ə.fəl

many colors

8. Face

Use these words to describe parts of the face clearly.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

face

feɪs

front of head

eyes

aɪz

organs of sight

nose

nəʊz

breathing organ

mouth

maʊθ

speaking and eating

lips

lɪps

mouth edges

cheeks

tʃiːks

sides of face

chin

tʃɪn

lower jaw

forehead

ˈfɒr.ɪd

upper face

eyebrows

ˈaɪ.braʊz

hair above eyes

eyelashes

ˈaɪ.læʃ.ɪz

eye hair

9. Clothes

These words describe everyday clothing people wear.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

shirt

ʃɜːt

upper garment

T-shirt

ˈtiː.ʃɜːt

casual top

dress

dres

one-piece clothing

jacket

ˈdʒæk.ɪt

outerwear

coat

kəʊt

warm outerwear

jeans

dʒiːnz

denim trousers

trousers

ˈtraʊ.zəz

pants

skirt

skɜːt

lower garment

sweater

ˈswet.ər

knitted top

outfit

ˈaʊt.fɪt

clothing set

10. Footwear

These words help describe different types of footwear.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

shoes

ʃuːz

general footwear

sneakers

ˈsniː.kəz

sports shoes

boots

buːts

high shoes

sandals

ˈsæn.dəlz

open shoes

heels

hiːlz

high-heeled shoes

flats

flæts

flat shoes

slippers

ˈslɪp.əz

indoor shoes

loafers

ˈləʊ.fəz

slip-on shoes

running shoes

ˈrʌn.ɪŋ ʃuːz

athletic shoes

flip-flops

ˈflɪp.flɒps

beach sandals

11. Accessory

These items complete an outfit and add personal style.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

bag

bæɡ

carry item

handbag

ˈhænd.bæɡ

purse

belt

belt

waist accessory

hat

hæt

headwear

scarf

skɑːf

neck accessory

sunglasses

ˈsʌnˌɡlɑː.sɪz

eye protection

watch

wɒtʃ

timepiece

gloves

ɡlʌvz

hand covering

wallet

ˈwɒl.ɪt

money holder

backpack

ˈbæk.pæk

shoulder bag

12. Jewelry

These words describe common personal ornaments.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

ring

rɪŋ

finger jewelry

necklace

ˈnek.ləs

neck ornament

bracelet

ˈbreɪ.slət

wrist jewelry

earrings

ˈɪə.rɪŋz

ear jewelry

pendant

ˈpen.dənt

hanging ornament

brooch

brəʊtʃ

pin accessory

anklet

ˈæŋ.klət

ankle jewelry

diamond

ˈdaɪə.mənd

precious stone

gold

ɡəʊld

yellow metal

silver

ˈsɪl.vər

white metal

13. Material & Shape 

These terms describe fabric type, patterns, and object shapes.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

cotton

ˈkɒt.ən

natural fabric

denim

ˈden.ɪm

jeans material

leather

ˈleð.ər

animal skin

silk

sɪlk

smooth fabric

striped

straɪpt

line pattern

floral

ˈflɔː.rəl

flower pattern

plain

pleɪn

no pattern

round

raʊnd

circular shape

square

skweər

four-sided

slim-fit

slɪm fɪt

close-fitting

These Appearance vocabulary sets help you describe people’s looks, clothing, and style clearly and politely in English. With GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition method, you’ll retain these descriptive words naturally and use them with confidence.

Keep learning with GuruLango and talk about appearance in English with ease and accuracy!