¿Cómo es? Describe Someone Physically in Spanish

If you’ve ever taken a Spanish class or tried to describe a person in Spanish, chances are you’ve heard the question “¿Cómo es?”
It’s a simple phrase, but it opens the door to a whole set of vocabulary and structures that Spanish learners use all the time.

In this post, we’ll break down what ¿Cómo es? really means, how to use it to describe someone physically, and the most common adjectives you’ll hear and need. No grammar overload—just practical Spanish you can actually use.

What Does “¿Cómo es?” Mean?

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Literally, ¿Cómo es? translates to “What is he/she like?” You might be confused if you learned that cómo means how. ¿Cómo es? literally translates to “how is he/she?”, but the verb ser is used for more permanent characteristics. It’s really more of a way to ask “how is he/she like as a person.”

In everyday Spanish, it’s used to ask about a person’s characteristics, which can include:

• Physical appearance
• Personality
• General traits

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When the context is clear (for example, you’re talking about someone’s looks), ¿Cómo es? naturally leads to a physical description.

Example:

• ¿Cómo es tu hermano?
  → What does your brother look like?

Using “Ser” for Physical Descriptions

Physical descriptions in Spanish almost always use the verb ser, not estar.

Why? Because ser is used for traits that are considered permanent or long-lasting, such as height, hair color, or body type.

Structure:

Subject + ser + adjective

Examples:

• Es alto. (He is tall.)
• Es baja. (She is short.)
• Son delgados. (They are thin.)

Basic Physical Description Vocabulary

Let’s start with some of the most common adjectives learners use when answering ¿Cómo es?

Height and Build

• alto / alta – tall
• bajo / baja – short
• delgado / delgada – thin
• gordo / gorda – overweight
• fuerte – strong
• atlético / atlética – athletic

Example:

• Es alto y delgado.
  → He is tall and thin.

Making Descriptions Sound Natural

Native speakers rarely give robotic, checklist-style descriptions. They usually combine details and keep it simple.

Instead of:

• Es alto. Es moreno. Tiene ojos marrones.

A more natural version:

• Es alto y moreno, con ojos marrones.

That small word con (with) goes a long way.

Adjective Agreement (The Part You Can’t Skip)

In Spanish, adjectives must agree with the person being described.

• Masculine: alto, delgado
• Feminine: alta, delgada
• Plural: altos, altas

Examples:

• Mi hermana es baja.
• Mis amigos son altos.

This takes practice, but it becomes automatic with exposure.

Practice: Answering “¿Cómo es?”

Try answering these out loud or in writing:

1. ¿Cómo es tu mejor amigo?
2. ¿Cómo es una persona famosa que te gusta?
3. ¿Cómo eres tú?

Even a simple answer like “Soy bajo y tengo el pelo corto” is perfect.