12 Ways to Say “Fat” in English

12 Ways to Say “Fat” in English

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. When it comes to describing body size in English, the choice of words matters — not only for accuracy but also for politeness. Some terms are neutral, others affectionate, and a few can be offensive if used carelessly. In this lesson, you will learn a range of words and expressions you can use instead of fat, their meanings, and how to use them naturally in conversation. 12 Ways to Say “Fat” in English

Overweight

Meaning: Weighing more than is considered healthy; neutral, formal.

• According to his doctor, he is slightly overweight and should exercise more.
• The report shows that the number of overweight children is increasing.

Plump

Meaning: Slightly fat in a pleasant or attractive way; neutral, sometimes positive.

• She was a plump child with rosy cheeks.
• The cat is looking a bit plump after all those treats.  

Chubby

Meaning: Slightly fat, usually used for children, pets, or in a friendly way; informal, often affectionate.

• He has chubby little hands.
• You were such a chubby baby!

Podgy / Pudgy

Meaning: Slightly fat and round; similar to “chubby” but less affectionate; informal, mild.

• He’s a bit podgy around the middle.
• The puppy has a pudgy face.

Curvy

Meaning: Having an attractive body shape with rounded hips and breasts; positive, for women.

• She’s proud of her curvy figure.
• The magazine featured curvy models in its latest fashion spread. 12 Ways to Say “Fat” in English

Well-built

Meaning: Having a large, strong, and solid body; neutral, polite.

• He’s a well-built man who works as a firefighter.
• The athlete is tall and well-built.

Big-boned

Meaning: Having a naturally large body frame; often used as a softer way to say “fat”; euphemistic.

• She says she’s not overweight, just big-boned.
• He’s always been big-boned like his father.

Heavyset

Meaning: Solid and broad in build; neutral, descriptive.

• The suspect was described as a heavyset man in his forties.
• She has a heavyset frame but moves gracefully.

Stout

Meaning: Rather fat and solid-looking, especially used for older people; formal, neutral–positive.

• He was a stout gentleman with a warm smile.
• She’s a stout woman who works in the bakery. 12 Ways to Say “Fat” in English

Plus-size

Meaning: Describing larger clothing sizes or the people who wear them, often used in fashion; modern, polite.

• She’s a plus-size model who campaigns for body positivity.
• This shop specialises in plus-size clothing.

Portly

Meaning: Somewhat fat, usually for older men. Formal, polite–slightly old-fashioned.

• A portly man greeted us at the door.
• The portly waiter took our orders.

Obese

Meaning: Extremely overweight to a degree that may affect health; medical term, formal.

• The study shows that 20% of the population is obese.
• The doctor warned him about the dangers of being obese. 12 Ways to Say “Fat” in English

Mind the Tone

Neutral/polite: overweight, plus-size, well-built, heavyset, curvy, big-boned.

Affectionate: plump, chubby.

Formal: obese, stout, portly.

Possibly offensive if used carelessly: fat, podgy/pudgy (depends on tone and context).

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