How to Write a Description in Spanish

Quick Answer

Most forms of writing in Spanish involve the use of descriptions. Learn how to describe people, places, and things to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.

How to Write a Description with Ser

We can use the verb ser(to be) with countless adjectives to describe what someone or something is like in Spanish.

¡Ojo!(Be careful!) In Spanish, adjectives must agree with the noun they are describing in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).

Describing People

Describing people is an important skill to have in Spanish. Let’s take a look at how to write a description about a person using personality and physical appearance adjectives.

examples
El Prof. Morales era muy bondadoso y querido por sus estudiantes. Prof. Morales was very kind and well-loved by his students.
Era alto y guapo como una estrella de cine. He was tall and handsome like a movie star.

When describing people or things in the past, we typically use the imperfect.

Describing Things

¿De qué color es tu casa?(What color is your house?) ¿Es grande o pequeña?(Is it big or small?) To answer questions like these in Spanish, we need to be able to give an objective description of an object's color, shape, size, etc.

For example:

examples
Su cara era redonda como una luna llena. Her face was round like a full moon.
El cielo es de un hermoso tono naranja cuando se pone el sol. The sky is a beautiful shade of orange at sunset.

Describing Places

Do you think Tulum es demasiado turístico(is too touristy)? Perhaps you believe that Seville es la ciudad más impresionante del mundo(is the most stunning city in the world). Learn how to use the verb ser to give a vivid description of a place in Spanish so you can paint an accurate picture in the mind of your reader.

Check out these examples!

examples
Koh Phangan es hermosa, pero las playas están llenas de basura. Koh Phangan is beautiful, but the beaches are full of litter.
Dubrovnik es una ciudad pintoresca, con acantilados que se elevan sobre el Mar Adriático. Dubrovnik is a picturesque city, with cliffs towering over the Adriatic Sea.

Some adjectives commonly used to describe a place, such as contaminado, ruinoso(run-down), and lleno(crowded), require the use of the verb estar.

We can use the verb serwith many other types of descriptions. Click here to learn more!

How to Write a Description with Estar

Ser is used to talk about permanent or lasting attributes, while estar (to be) is used with adjectives that describe the state or condition the subject is in. Let’s check out some examples!

examples
La pasta estaba rica, pero no me gustó el postre. The pasta was delicious, but I didn't like the dessert.
Su casa está siempre inmaculada. His house is always spotless.

How to Write a Description with Tener

Tener(to have) is used to describe someone’s age, as well as hair color, eye color, and other physical attributes.

For example:

examples
Mi abuelo es bajo y tiene bigote. My grandpa is short and has a mustache.
Carmen tiene unos ojos verdes enormes. Carmen has huge green eyes.

How to Write a Sensory Description

When writing a description in Spanish, engage your reader’s senses by making them see, feel, hear, smell, and taste what you are describing.

Use the following verbs followed by an adjective or noun to write a sensory description.

Parecer

Use parecerto express how something or someone looks.

For example:

examples
No sabía por qué, pero el hombre parecía extrañamente familiar. I didn't know why, but the man looked strangely familiar.
Mi gato parece un leopardo con sus manchas negras. My cat looks like a leopard with his black spots.

Sentirse

Use sentirseto talk about how something feels.

examples
Su piel se sentía suave. Her skin felt soft.
Se sentía como seda entre mis dedos. It felt like silk between my fingers.

Oler

Oleris used to describe how something or someone smells.

examples
El hostal olía horrible, como si nadie lo hubiera limpiado en días. The hostel smelled horrible, as if no one had cleaned it for days.
Ese día había un viento ligero, y la ciudad olía a naranjas. That day there was a light breeze, and the city smelled like oranges.

Saber

Saberis used to describe how something tastes.

examples
Estaba llena, pero seguía comiendo porque la comida sabía muy bien. I was full, but I kept on eating because the food tasted really good.
Este caramelo sabe a miel. This candy tastes like honey.

Sonar

Use sonarto talk about how someone or something sounds.

examples
Su acento sonaba muy raro. His accent sounded very strange.
De repente, oyó algo que sonaba como los gritos de un mono aullador. Suddenly, he heard something that sounded like the calls of a howler monkey.

How to Use Figurative Language in a Description

The key to great descriptive writing in Spanish is creating comparisons by linking the senses and the concrete to abstract ideas. Let's take a look at how to level up your descriptions by using figurative language.

examples
Su sonrisa era tan brillante como el sol. Her smile was as bright as the sun.
Me cuesta relacionarme con Eduardo. Es más viejo que Matusalén. I have a hard time relating to Eduardo. He's as old as Methuselah.

Are you looking for a way to spruce up your powers of description? Read books in Spanish to learn new adjectives you can use in your own descriptions!

Get tips on how to write in Spanish with these articles!