What’s the distinction between saying Mi hermana es buena (My sister is nice) and Mi hermana es divertida y cariñosa (My sister is enjoyable and caring)? Each sentences describe an individual, however the first one is obscure – buena might imply sort, well-behaved, and even morally good. The second sentence, nevertheless, paints a a lot clearer image.
In Spanish, utilizing the fitting adjectives helps you categorical precisely what you imply when speaking about individuals. On this information, you’ll be taught key vocabulary, grammar guidelines, and sensible examples that can assist you describe individuals in Spanish with confidence.
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Fundamental grammar guidelines for describing character in Spanish
Earlier than diving into vocabulary, it’s essential to grasp some key grammar guidelines:
1. Gender and quantity settlement
In Spanish, adjectives should match the gender (masculine or female) and quantity (singular or plural) of the noun they describe. Usually, masculine adjectives finish in -o, whereas female adjectives finish in -a. When describing a plural noun, an -s is added to the adjective.
English |
Spanish |
Gender and quantity |
Peter is pleasant |
Pedro es simpático |
Masculine singular |
Anna is pleasant |
Ana es simpática |
Female singular |
Peter and George are pleasant |
Pedro y Jorge son simpáticos |
Masculine plural |
Anna and Susan are pleasant |
Ana y Susana son simpátic |
Female plural |
Some adjectives, like inteligente (clever) and feliz (joyful), keep the identical for each genders. Nonetheless, they alter within the plural: inteligentes, felices.
2. Place of adjectives
Most character adjectives come after the noun in Spanish:
- Un chico trabajador (A tough-working boy)
Nonetheless, some adjectives can come earlier than the noun, particularly when expressing emphasis or subjective opinions:
- Es un gran amigo (He is a superb good friend)
Tips on how to use character adjectives in sentences
Should you’re beginning with character descriptions, grasp the fundamentals with these key constructions:
Fundamental construction
In Spanish, when describing somebody’s character, you employ the verb ser (to be) + an adjective. We use ser and never estar as a result of character traits are thought of everlasting or secure traits.
Components: [Subject] + “ser” + [adjective]:
- Mi madre es muy organizada (My mom could be very organized)
- Pedro es simpático y amable (Pedro is pleasant and sort)
Evaluating personalities
When making comparisons, you should utilize más (extra), menos (much less) or tan (as) earlier than the adjective.
- Más/menos + adjective + que → Mi hermana es más extrovertida que yo (My sister is extra outgoing than me)
- Tan + adjective + como → Laura es tan simpática como su madre (Laura is as good as her mom)
Utilizing adverbs for emphasis
Muy (very), bastante (fairly), un poco (a little bit), demasiado (too).
- Mi jefe es bastante estricto (My boss is sort of strict)
- Mi primo es un poco tímido (My cousin is a little bit shy)
Frequent Spanish adjectives to explain character
Listed here are some helpful adjectives categorized into constructive, adverse, and impartial/combined traits:
Optimistic character traits
Spanish |
English-friendly pronunciation |
|
Amable |
ah-MAH-bleh |
|
Generoso/a |
heh-neh-ROH-soh / heh-neh-ROH-sah |
|
Alegre |
ah-LEH-greh |
|
Sociable |
soh-SYAH-bleh |
|
Trabajador/a |
trah-bah-hah-DOR / trah-bah-hah-DOR-ah |
|
Paciente |
pah-SYEN-teh |
|
Sincero/a |
seen-SEH-roh / seen-SEH-rah |
|
Cariñoso/a |
kah-ree-NYOH-soh / kah-ree-NYOH-sah |
|
Creativo/a |
kreh-ah-TEE-voh / kreh-ah-TEE-vah |
|
Encantador/a |
en-kahn-tah-DOR / en-kahn-tah-DOR-ah |
Unfavorable character traits
English |
Spanish |
English-friendly pronunciation |
Egocentric |
Egoísta |
eh-goh-EES-tah |
Lazy |
Perezoso/a |
peh-reh-SOH-soh / peh-reh-SOH-sah |
Impatient |
Impaciente |
eem-pah-SYEN-teh |
Cussed |
Testarudo/a |
tehs-tah-ROO-doh / tehs-tah-ROO-dah |
Grumpy |
Malhumorado/a |
mahl-oo-moh-RAH-doh / mahl-oo-moh-RAH-dah |
Stingy |
Tacaño/a |
tah-KAH-nyoh / tah-KAH-nyah |
Resentful |
Rencoroso/a |
rehn-koh-ROH-soh / rehn-koh-ROH-sah |
Gossiping |
Chismoso/a |
chees-MOH-soh / chees-MOH-sah |
Envious |
Envidioso/a |
en-vee-DYOH-soh / en-vee-DYOH-sah |
Smug |
Arrogante |
ah-rroh-GAHN-teh |
Impartial or combined character traits
English |
Spanish |
English-friendly pronunciation |
Critical |
Serio/a |
SEH-ryoh / SEH-ryah |
Quiet |
Callado/a |
kah-YAH-doh / kah-YAH-dah |
Reserved |
Reservado/a |
reh-sehr-VAH-doh / reh-sehr-VAH-dah |
Curious |
Curioso/a |
koo-RYOH-soh / koo-RYOH-sah |
Shy |
Tímido/a |
TEE-mee-doh / TEE-mee-dah |
Formidable |
Ambicioso/a |
ahm-bee-SYOH-soh / ahm-bee-SYOH-sah |
Outgoing |
Extrovertido/a |
ehks-troh-vehr-TEE-doh / ehks-troh-vehr-TEE-dah |
Introverted |
Introvertido/a |
een-troh-vehr-TEE-doh / een-troh-vehr-TEE-dah |
Cautious |
Prudente |
proo-DEN-teh |
Delicate |
Smart |
sehn-SEE-bleh |
Frequent expressions and phrases for describing individuals
Native audio system usually use idiomatic expressions to explain character. Listed here are a couple of:
1. Tener un carácter fuerte – To have a powerful character
Mi abuela tiene un carácter fuerte, pero es muy cariñosa (My grandmother has a powerful character, however she could be very affectionate)
2. Ser un trozo de pan – To be a extremely sort or candy particular person
María es un trozo de pan, siempre tiene una sonrisa para todos (María is a sweetheart, she all the time has a smile for everybody)
3. Ser una persona de fiar – To be a reliable particular person
Juan es una persona de fiar, siempre cumple sus promesas (Juan is a reliable particular person, he all the time retains his guarantees)
4. Ser un sol – To be a sunshine (a heat, sort, and cheerful particular person)
Carlos es un sol, siempre alegra el día de todos (Carlos is a sunshine, he all the time brightens everybody’s day)
5. Tener mano izquierda – To have a comfortable contact (to be diplomatic or tactful)
Carlos tiene mano izquierda para tratar con clientes difíciles (Carlos has a comfortable contact when coping with tough shoppers)
Tricks to follow character adjectives in Spanish
Studying character adjectives is one factor, however really utilizing them is one other! To make these phrases stick and sound extra pure in conversations, listed here are some enjoyable and efficient methods to strengthen what you’ve discovered:
Use real-life examples
Attempt to describe individuals you understand utilizing the adjectives you’ve discovered. For instance:
- Mi amigo es muy extrovertido (My good friend could be very outgoing)
- Mi hermana es un poco tímida (My sister is a little bit shy)
Study native phrases
Should you’re travelling to a Spanish-speaking nation, strive studying some conversational phrases from that particular area. For instance, pendejo is a adverse character adjective broadly utilized in Latin America (often which means “silly”), however not used in any respect in Spain.
Moreover, in Spain, somebody who’s enjoyable and sociable may be known as majo/a, whereas in Latin America, buena onda (good wave) means “easygoing.” Equally, guay means “cool” in Spain, however in Mexico one would hear padre, and in Colombia or Venezuela, chévere.
Apply with flashcards
Make flashcards with adjectives on one aspect and their meanings or instance sentences on the opposite. Quiz your self or use apps like Anki or Quizlet to strengthen your reminiscence.
Describe well-known individuals
Choose a well-known particular person or character from a film, TV present, or ebook, and describe their character utilizing totally different adjectives:
- Spiderman es valiente y generoso (Spiderman is courageous and beneficiant)
- Sherlock Holmes es inteligente y curioso (Sherlock Holmes is clever and curious)
Watch motion pictures or TV exhibits in Spanish
Take note of how characters are described by others. Take notes on new adjectives and phrases that describe their personalities.
Spanish adjectives: Key takeaways
To explain personalities in Spanish, listed here are the important thing factors to recollect:
- Use particular adjectives for readability relatively than basic ones
- Take note of gender and quantity settlement
- Study some idiomatic expressions to sound like a professional
- Apply with real-life examples to construct confidence
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