Class 13: 22-27/11/12 M2 Descriptions

Vocabulary for Describing People

Everyone loves people watching from the café.  There are many ways to remark on someone's outward appearance, and to describe someone's style, ethnicity and clothing.  You can also make inferences as to what they might act like.

-          Look! He/She is wearing...

-          He/She looks like he/she is...  They look like they are...

-          They have the appearance...

-          Those people are...  That person is...

There are two kinds of descriptions, appearance(physical) and personality (mental), one is apparent from the surface while the second you have to either know the person or make a guess.

Descriptive Words

-          tall - grand(e)

-          little/short - petit(e)

-          hairy - poilu(e)

-          fat - gros/grosse

-          well-built/shapely - bien bâti(e)

-          buff (for men) - musclé

-          scrawny - maigrichon/maigrichonne

-          tanned - bronzé(e)

-          skinny - maigre

-          sporty - sportif/sportive

-          wrinkly - ridé(e)

Attractiveness

-          handsome (for men) - beau

-          cute - mignon(ne)

-          stylish - à la mode

-          hip - branché(e)

-          beautiful (for women) - belle

-          pretty (for women) - jolie

-          trendy - tendance

-          ugly - moche

-          weird - bizarre

Expressions

-          a lean face - un visage fin

-          a good "mug" - une bonne gueule

-          a square jaw - une mâchoire carrée

-          a tiny head - une petite tête

-          homely - ordinaire, simple

-          dirty - sale

-          a friendly, likable face - une bonne mine

-          a round face - un visage arrondi

-          a baby face - à visage poupin

-          beady eyes - des petits yeux

-          a bad figure - un physique désagréable

-          slimy - mielleux/mielleuse

-          grotty - crade

Characters

-          kids - les enfants

-          teenager - un ado

-          wino - un alcolo

-          thug - un voyou

-          redneck - péquenaud(e)

-          jock - le sportif/la sportive

-          bum/hobo - le/la clochard(e)

-          ladies' man - beau gosse

-          work-a-holic - bourreau de travail

Put into Practice

Now with a partner you need to describe the people in the several photos I have given you.  Imagine what kind of life they have, describe their physical appearance, what they like to do etc.  You can even make fun of them if you want.  

Speed Dating
Pick a famous person or character and describe them, their personality, appearance, what they do for a living, what kind of person they are looking for, bad habits, likes/dislikes.  Share with a partner and see if they can guess.