Tall, blond or bearded? 10 German words for appearance

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Next time a friend shows you a photo of their new partner, you'll have more to say than ‘nice’.

A German friend asks, “Wie sieht er denn aus?” — what does he look like? I manage “Er ist… groß… ähm…” and then mime a beard with my hands. Describing people is harder than it seems.

Today's ten words are for talking about how people look. You'll be able to describe height, build, hair and beards, and pay a compliment that sounds natural. 🪞

🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks

aussehen

[OWSS-zay-en]to look, appear

(sieht aus – hat ausgesehen)

📌 Du siehst müde aus.

→ You look tired.

💡 aus (out) + sehen (to see) = how you look from the outside 👀

⚠ Separable verb: Du siehst müde aus. The aus goes to the end.

groß

[GROHSS]big, large; tall

(größer – am größten)

📌 Mein Bruder ist sehr groß.

→ My brother is very tall.

💡 Same root as English great 🦒 For people, groß means tall.

Bonus How tall are you? = Wie groß bist du? · opposite: klein

schlank

[SHLAHNK]slim, slender

📌 Sie ist groß und schlank.

→ She is tall and slim.

💡 Sounds long and thin, like a willow 🌿 A polite word for slim.

Bonus Just skinny is dünn; slim and nice-looking is schlank.

dick

[DIK]thick; fat

(dick – dicker – am dicksten)

📌 Das Buch ist sehr dick.

→ The book is very thick.

💡 Same word as English thick 📚 A thick book is ein dickes Buch.

⚠ Calling a person dick can be rude. Softer: mollig (chubby).

das Haar

[HAHR]hair

(Pl. die Haare)

📌 Ich möchte mir die Haare schneiden lassen.

→ I'd like to have my hair cut.

💡 Nearly the same as English hair 💇‍♀️

Bonus to get a haircut = sich die Haare schneiden lassen

⚠ Your hair is usually plural: Meine Haare sind lang.

blond

[BLONT]blond(e)

📌 Sie hat blonde Haare.

→ She has blonde hair.

💡 Borrowed from French 👱‍♀️ The final d sounds like t.

Bonus It takes an ending before a noun: Sie hat blonde Haare.

gut aussehend

[GOOT OWSS-zay-ent]good-looking, handsome

(besser aussehend – am besten aussehend)

📌 Ihr neuer Freund ist sehr gut aussehend.

→ Her new boyfriend is very good-looking.

💡 gut (well) + aussehend (looking) = good-looking 😎

Bonus As a compliment: Du siehst gut aus! (You look great!)

der Bart

[BART]beard

(Pl. die Bärte)

📌 Seit dem Urlaub trägt er einen Bart.

→ He's had a beard since the holiday.

💡 A cousin of English beard 🧔 to have a beard = einen Bart tragen

Bonus moustache = der Schnurrbart

hässlich

[HESS-lish]ugly

(hässlich – hässlicher – am hässlichsten)

📌 Das Gebäude ist wirklich hässlich.

→ The building is really ugly.

💡 Hass (hate) + -lich = hateful to look at → ugly 👹

Bonus Used more for buildings and clothes than people: Das Gebäude ist hässlich.

hübsch

[HUEPSH]pretty, lovely

(hübsch – hübscher – am hübschesten)

📌 Das ist ein hübsches Kleid.

→ That's a pretty dress.

💡 It comes from höfisch (courtly) 🎀 Pretty enough for a palace.

Bonus opposite: hässlich · cute: niedlich

🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture

In Germany people tend to be careful about commenting on someone's looks, especially their weight. Remarks like ‘Have you lost weight?’ or ‘You look tired’ can come across as rude, even between friends.

Complimenting someone's style is a safer bet: “Du siehst gut aus!” or “Die Brille steht dir!” (Those glasses suit you!). Praise what someone has chosen, not their body, and you can't go wrong. 😊

✅ Quick quiz

Q. Your friend turns up in a new outfit. What's a good compliment?

① Du siehst gut aus!
② Du bist aber dick geworden.
③ Das Kleid ist hässlich.

Show the answer

① Du siehst gut aus!
Du siehst gut aus! = You look great! It's the safest compliment about someone's appearance.

Pick a favourite actor and describe them out loud in German: Er ist groß und hat einen Bart… 🎬

🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 💕 Dating & love