Key French Verbs for Describing Physical Appearance

When learning to describe people in French, understanding the correct verbs is crucial.

This article covers the main verbs used for physical descriptions, helping you construct accurate and natural-sounding sentences.

Être: The Verb "To Be"

"Être" is fundamental for describing inherent characteristics. It's used with adjectives to express physical traits.

Examples:

1. Il est grand. (He is tall.)
2. Elle est mince. (She is thin.)
3. Ils sont petits. (They are short.)
4. Nous sommes bronzés. (We are tanned.)
5. Tu es musclé. (You are muscular.)

Avoir: The Verb "To Have"

"Avoir" is used with nouns to describe features that someone possesses.

Examples:

1. J'ai les yeux bleus. (I have blue eyes.)
2. Elle a les cheveux longs. (She has long hair.)
3. Nous avons la peau claire. (We have fair skin.)
4. Ils ont un nez aquilin. (They have an aquiline nose.)
5. Tu as des taches de rousseur. (You have freckles.)

Paraître: The Verb "To Appear"

"Paraître" expresses how someone looks or seems, especially regarding temporary states or emotions.

Examples:

1. Il paraît fatigué. (He appears tired.)
2. Elles paraissent heureuses. (They appear happy.)
3. Nous paraissons nerveux. (We appear nervous.)
4. Tu parais en forme. (You appear fit.)
5. Je parais plus jeune que mon âge. (I appear younger than my age.)

Synonyms for Paraître

Two common synonyms for "paraître" are:

1. Sembler (to seem)

   • Elle semble triste. (She seems sad.)

2. Avoir l'air (to look, to seem)

   • Vous avez l'air perdu. (You look lost.)

Ressembler: The Verb "To Resemble"

"Ressembler" is used to compare physical similarities between people.

Examples:

1. Je ressemble à mon père. (I resemble my father.)
2. Les jumeaux se ressemblent beaucoup. (The twins resemble each other a lot.)
3. Tu ressembles à ta grand-mère. (You resemble your grandmother.)
4. Nous ressemblons à nos parents. (We resemble our parents.)
5. Elle ressemble à une actrice célèbre. (She resembles a famous actress.)

Practical Application

Combining these verbs allows for detailed physical descriptions:

• Marie a les cheveux bruns et les yeux verts. Elle est grande et mince. Elle ressemble à sa mère, mais paraît plus jeune. (Marie has brown hair and green eyes. She is tall and thin. She resembles her mother but appears younger.)

• Pierre est petit et il a une barbe. Il a l'air sportif et semble toujours de bonne humeur. (Pierre is short and has a beard. He looks athletic and always seems to be in a good mood.)

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Conclusion

Mastering these key verbs - être, avoir, paraître, and ressembler - is essential for describing physical appearance in French.

Regular practice will help you use them naturally in conversations.