40+ Collocations about Physical Appearance in English

Learning collocations about physical appearance will help you describe people more naturally and accurately. A collocation is a group of two or more words that are commonly used together. For example, English speakers usually say curly hair, broad shoulders and a slim build.

Although expressions such as strong hair or high shoulders may be grammatically possible in some languages, they do not sound natural in English.

In this lesson, you will learn useful collocations for describing someone’s age, height, build, hair, face, eyes, skin and general appearance. These expressions are useful in everyday conversation, story writing and the Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced exams.

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Talking about Age

When we know someone’s exact age, we use be + number + years old.

• Marcia is 43 years old.
• My grandfather is 82 years old.
• Their youngest child is six years old.

We do not normally say:

• Marcia has 43 years.

In more formal descriptions, we can also use aged + number:

• The suspect was a man aged approximately 40.

In Your Thirties, Forties or Fifties

When we do not know someone’s exact age, we can use:

• in his or her twenties
• in his or her fifties

We can be more precise by using early, mid- or late:

• She is in her early thirties.
• He looks as though he is in his mid-forties.
• The witness described a woman in her late twenties.

We can also use general age expressions:

• a young child
• a teenage boy
• a young adult
• a middle-aged woman
• an elderly gentleman
• an older person

Examples:

• He is a middle-aged man with short grey hair.
• An elderly woman was waiting at the bus stop.
• She is a young woman in her early twenties.

Be cautious with the word old, as it may sound too direct when describing a person. Older or elderly may be more appropriate, depending on the context.

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Useful Age Collocations

Look Your Age

If somebody looks their age, their appearance matches how old they are.

• He is 50 and looks his age.
• She does not look her age at all.

Look Younger or Older Than Your Age

• People often say that she looks younger than her age.
• Stress made him look older than his age.

More naturally, we can also say:

• She looks younger than she is.
• He looks much older than he really is.

Age Well

To age well means to continue looking attractive or healthy as you grow older.

• My aunt has aged very well.
• He seems to have aged well despite his stressful job.

Show Signs of Ageing

• His face was beginning to show signs of ageing.
• Fine lines are one of the first visible signs of ageing.

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Describing Height

We normally use the verb be when talking about someone’s height.

• Peter is tall.
• Sara is quite short.
• My brother is of medium height.

The natural expression is of medium height, not medium tall.

Common Height Collocations

• very tall
• unusually tall
• quite short
• rather short
• of medium height
• average height
• tall and slim
• short and stocky

Examples:

• Peter is a tall, slim man in his thirties.
• The woman was of average height and had shoulder-length hair.
• He is rather short but very strongly built.

We can also give someone’s exact height:

• She is about 170 centimetres tall.
• He is six feet two inches tall.

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Describing Build and Body Shape

A person’s build refers to the general shape and size of their body.

Slim Build

Someone with a slim build has a thin and attractive-looking body.

• She has a slim build and long legs.

Slender Figure

A slender figure is slim and graceful.

• She was tall, with a slender figure and delicate features.

Athletic Build

Someone with an athletic build looks strong, fit and physically active.

• He has an athletic build because he swims regularly.

Muscular Build

• The man had a broad, muscular build.

Stocky Build

A stocky person is short or medium in height, with a broad, solid body.

• He was short and stocky, with powerful arms.

Solid Build

• He is a large man with a solid build.

Well-Built

Well-built usually means strong, broad or muscular.

• Paul is a swimmer. He is tall and well-built.

Broad or Narrow Shoulders

• He has broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
• She has quite narrow shoulders.

Gain or Lose Weight

• I have gained a little weight over the winter.
• She lost weight after changing her diet.

Comments about weight can be sensitive, so avoid asking someone directly whether they have gained weight unless you know them very well.

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Collocations for Hair

Hair can be described according to its length, colour, texture, thickness and style.

Hair Length

• long hair
• short hair
• shoulder-length hair
• waist-length hair
• closely cropped hair

Examples:

• She has long, straight hair.
• His hair is short and closely cropped.
• The woman had shoulder-length brown hair.

Hair Colour

• black hair
• dark hair
• brown hair
• fair hair
• blond or blonde hair
• red hair
• grey hair
• white hair

Examples:

• Darren is a boy with short, wavy, fair hair.
• She has naturally dark brown hair.
• His hair started going grey in his thirties.

In British English, fair hair generally means light-coloured hair.

Hair Texture

• straight hair
• wavy hair
• curly hair
• thick hair
• fine hair
• soft hair
• coarse hair

Examples:

• She has thick, curly hair.
• His hair is naturally straight.
• The baby had very fine, soft hair.

Hair Condition

• shiny hair
• healthy-looking hair
• dry hair
• greasy hair
• damaged hair

Examples:

• Her hair looked shiny and healthy.
• Too much heat can leave your hair dry and damaged.
• I need to wash my hair because it is becoming greasy.

We normally say greasy hair rather than oily hair in everyday British English, although oily hair is also possible.

Hairstyles and Hair Changes

• wear your hair long
• wear your hair loose
• wear your hair in a ponytail
• tie your hair back
• part your hair in the middle
• dye your hair
• go grey
• go bald
• have a receding hairline

Examples:

• She usually wears her hair in a ponytail.
• He started going grey when he was 35.
• Jim dyes his hair because it is going grey.
• His hairline has begun to recede.
• He went bald at a relatively young age.

We say dye your hair, not die your hair. The two verbs are pronounced in the same way but have very different meanings.

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Describing the Face

We use several common collocations to describe the shape and general appearance of someone’s face.

Face Shape

• a round face
• an oval face
• a long face
• a square face
• a heart-shaped face
• a narrow face

Examples:

• Hank had a round, smiling face.
• She has an oval face and high cheekbones.
• He was a serious-looking man with a long, narrow face.

We say a square face, not a squared face.

Facial Features

• delicate features
• strong features
• fine features
• regular features
• striking features
• distinctive features

Examples:

• She has delicate features and a warm smile.
• His strong features make him easy to recognise.
• The actress is known for her striking features.

Cheeks and Cheekbones

• rosy cheeks
• chubby cheeks
• hollow cheeks
• high cheekbones
• prominent cheekbones

Examples:

• The child had rosy cheeks and curly blond hair.
• She has high cheekbones and an oval face.
• Illness had left him with pale skin and hollow cheeks.

Forehead, Chin and Jaw

• a high forehead
• a broad forehead
• a pointed chin
• a double chin
• a strong jaw
• a square jaw

Examples:

• He has a broad forehead and a strong jaw.
• She has a small, pointed chin.
• The actor was famous for his square jaw.

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Describing the Eyes

Common collocations for eyes include colour, shape and expression.

Eye Colour

• blue eyes
• green eyes
• brown eyes
• dark eyes
• hazel eyes
• grey eyes

Examples:

• She has dark brown eyes.
• His bright blue eyes were his most distinctive feature.

Eye Shape and Size

• large eyes
• small eyes
• wide-set eyes
• deep-set eyes
• almond-shaped eyes

Examples:

• She has large, almond-shaped eyes.
• He was a thin man with deep-set eyes.

Eye Expressions

• bright eyes
• sparkling eyes
• tired eyes
• friendly eyes
• sad eyes
• piercing eyes

Examples:

• He had a round face and friendly blue eyes.
• Her eyes looked tired after the long journey.
• The detective had sharp, piercing eyes.

Eyebrows and Eyelashes

• thick eyebrows
• thin eyebrows
• dark eyebrows
• arched eyebrows
• bushy eyebrows
• long eyelashes

Examples:

• He has thick, dark eyebrows.
• She has beautifully arched eyebrows and long eyelashes.
• His bushy eyebrows made him look rather serious.

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Describing the Nose

A nose can be described with the following collocations:

• a small nose
• a large nose
• a straight nose
• a pointed nose
• a hooked nose
• a broad nose
• an upturned nose

Examples:

• Tina was a tall woman with curly blond hair and a small, straight nose.
• He had a long face and a slightly hooked nose.
• The child had an upturned nose and rosy cheeks.

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Describing the Mouth, Lips and Teeth

Lips

• full lips
• thin lips
• red lips
• pale lips

Examples:

• She has full lips and a warm smile.
• His lips were thin and tightly closed.

Smile

• a warm smile
• a friendly smile
• a broad smile
• a bright smile
• a shy smile

Examples:

• She greeted us with a warm smile.
• A broad smile spread across his face.
• He gave me a shy smile and looked away.

Teeth

• white teeth
• even teeth
• straight teeth
• crooked teeth
• perfect teeth

Examples:

• She had beautiful, even white teeth.
• He was self-conscious about his crooked teeth.
• The actor smiled, revealing a row of perfect white teeth.

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Describing Skin and Complexion

Skin Colour and Tone

• pale skin
• fair skin
• light skin
• dark skin
• tanned skin
• olive skin
• a dark complexion
• a fair complexion

Examples:

• She has pale skin and dark hair.
• He returned from holiday with deeply tanned skin.
• The woman had an olive complexion and brown eyes.

Be respectful and factual when describing skin colour. Avoid comparisons that may sound stereotypical or judgemental.

Skin Condition

• clear skin
• smooth skin
• soft skin
• dry skin
• oily skin
• sensitive skin
• freckled skin
• blemished skin

Examples:

• She has clear, smooth skin.
• Cold weather can make your skin dry.
• He has fair, freckled skin.
• This product is suitable for oily or sensitive skin.

Facial Hair

• a full beard
• a thick beard
• a neatly trimmed beard
• a short beard
• a bushy moustache
• a thin moustache
• clean-shaven

Examples:

• He has a neatly trimmed beard.
• My grandfather had a thick grey moustache.
• Daniel is usually clean-shaven.
• He grew a full beard during the winter.

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General Appearance

Well-Dressed

• He arrived looking smart and well-dressed.

Smartly Dressed

• The manager was smartly dressed in a dark suit.

Casually Dressed

• Most of the guests were casually dressed.

Fashionably Dressed

• Judith was always fashionably dressed when she was a student.

We do not normally say dressed in fashion.

Scruffily Dressed

• He turned up for the interview scruffily dressed.

Have a Good Dress Sense

• Jane has a very good dress sense.

Take Pride in Your Appearance

• She takes pride in her appearance without following every fashion trend.

Make a Good Impression

• His neat haircut and smart clothes made a good impression.

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Wear, Suit, Fit and Match

These verbs are often confused when talking about appearance and clothes.

Wear

Use wear for clothes, jewellery, glasses, hairstyles and makeup.

• She is wearing a blue dress.

Suit

If something suits you, it makes you look attractive.

• That colour really suits you.

Fit

If clothes fit, they are the right size.

• These trousers do not fit me.

Match

If two things match, they look good together because their colours or styles are similar.

• Your shoes match your bag.

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Put On and Take Off Makeup

We say:

• put on makeup
• wear makeup
• take off makeup
• remove makeup

Examples:

• I do not usually wear much makeup in summer.
• She put on a little makeup before going out.
• Always remove your makeup before going to bed.

We do not say:

• I do not put much makeup during the summer.

Better:

• I do not wear much makeup during the summer.

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Look Like and Take After

Look Like

Use look like when two people have a similar appearance.

• She looks like her mother.
• The two brothers look very much alike.

Take After

Use take after when somebody resembles an older relative in appearance or personality.

• I take after my mother’s side of the family.
• He takes after his father: they both have broad shoulders and dark hair.

We normally say:

• I take after my mother.

not:

• I take after my mother’s family.

However, we can say:

• I take after my mother’s side of the family.

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Polite Language for Describing Appearance

Physical appearance can be a sensitive subject. Avoid commenting unnecessarily on someone’s weight, age, skin or other personal characteristics.

Neutral descriptions are usually safer:

• She is a woman of medium height with shoulder-length brown hair.
• He is a tall, well-built man in his early forties.
• The child has curly hair, brown eyes and a round face.

Avoid language that sounds judgemental:

• She is too fat.
• He looks terribly old.
• Her nose is ugly.

When describing someone for practical reasons, focus on clear, objective details rather than opinions.

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Model Description

Laura is a woman in her early thirties. She is of medium height and has a slim, athletic build. She has shoulder-length, wavy brown hair, an oval face and high cheekbones. Her most distinctive features are her large green eyes and warm smile. She usually dresses casually, but she has an excellent dress sense and always looks well-presented.

Download Collocations about Physical Appearance Practice Worksheet in PDF here

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Collocations about Physical Appearance: Practice Questions

Use the collocations about physical appearance from this lesson to answer the following questions:

1. How would you describe your hair?
2. Do you take after anyone in your family?
3. Which physical features do you notice first when meeting someone?
4. Do you think people can develop a good dress sense?
5. Which colours suit you best?
6. Do you prefer short or long hair?
7. How would you describe a close friend’s general appearance?
8. What makes someone look well-presented?
9. Do you think people worry too much about their appearance?
10. How important is physical appearance in a job interview?

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Collocations about Physical Appearance: Final Thoughts

Learning collocations about physical appearance will help you produce descriptions that sound more natural and fluent. Instead of learning individual adjectives, try to remember complete word combinations such as:

• shoulder-length hair
• a slim build
• broad shoulders
• high cheekbones
• a warm smile
• a fair complexion
• thick eyebrows
• fashionably dressed

Practise these expressions by describing fictional characters, people in photographs or characters from books and films. However, always remember to use respectful and considerate language when describing real people.

Related posts:

• 22 Adjectives to Describe a Face 
• 12 Ways to Say “Fat” in English  
• Phrasal Verbs Related to Appearance  
• Wear, Dress, Suit, Fit 
• Vocabulary for Describing Clothes 
• B2 First Vocabulary 
• 24 Compound Adjectives to Describe a Person 
• Look, Seem, Appear 

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