Discussion
As you’re getting to know new people, it’s not uncommon to describe yourself, for example saying things like, “I’m very clumsy,” “I’m kind of messy,” “I’m studious” or “I’m active.”
Let’s say the person you are speaking to wants to know about another friend of yours. You will likely hear a familiar question:
- What's he like? Comment est-il?
- What's she like? Comment est-elle?
Physical traits and relationships are useful for triggering someone’s memory. But when you’re truly describing someone, it’s far more common to describe their personality. Here are just a few useful words to know.
| Il/ Elle est… | He/ She is… |
|---|---|
| adorable | adorable |
| intelligent(e) | intelligent |
| actif/active | active |
| nerveux/nerveuse | nervous |
| paresseux/paresseuse | lazy |
| sérieux/sérieuse | serious |
| comique | comical/funny |
You can use adverbs such as très (very) and assez (quite) to add even more information.
- Il est très intelligent. He is very smart.
- Je suis assez petite. I am quite short.
Describing people in French is not very difficult once you’ve learned some useful vocabulary. So, memorize your French words, go out to people watch, and describe to your heart’s content!
