C2 · 50 words
Describing people exactly in Spanish
Character, bearing and manner — words that make a person recognisable instead of merely praising them.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
A good description is one from which the person could be recognised. That needs words with a direction in them: campechanois approachable with a hint of calculationafableis approachable without itzalamerooverdoes it The word to carry away is cabal. In Spanish it says that somebody is whole, sound the whole way through: una persona cabal keeps their word and would never need watching. « A cabal » in English is a small group plotting together, which is about as far from the Spanish as a word can travel while keeping the same spelling. They are not even relatives: the Spanish comes from cabo, the end, so what is cabal is complete to the last inch.
The words
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Adjective (42)
campechanoeasy-going with a touch of designAdjectiveC2
Es campechano con todo el mundo, incluso cuando no conviene.They are easy-going with everybody, even when it does not suit them.
afablegenially warmAdjectiveC2
Un director afable no es lo mismo que uno blando.A genially warm director is not the same as a soft one.
zalamerosmarmyAdjectiveC2
Su tono zalamero levanta sospechas antes que simpatía.Their smarmy tone raises suspicion before it raises liking.
adustogruff and sparing of wordsAdjectiveC2
Tiene un trato adusto y una lealtad absoluta.They have a gruff manner and an absolute loyalty.
hoscosurlyAdjectiveC2
Contestó hosco y luego se disculpó.They answered surlily and then apologised.
taciturnosilent and turned inwardAdjectiveC2
Es taciturno en grupo y locuaz a solas.They are silent in a group and talkative one to one.
locuaztalkativeAdjectiveC2
Se vuelve locuaz en cuanto sale el tema del trabajo.They become talkative the moment work comes up.
reservadoreservedAdjectiveC2
Es reservado sin ser desconfiado.They are reserved without being mistrustful.
desenvueltoat ease anywhereAdjectiveC2
Se mueve desenvuelto en cualquier despacho.They move at ease in any office.
desenfadadolight-hearted and casualAdjectiveC2
Su estilo desenfadado no le resta rigor.Their light-hearted style takes nothing off their rigour.
altivohaughtyAdjectiveC2
Un gesto altivo estropeó toda la entrevista.A haughty gesture ruined the whole interview.
engreídoconceitedAdjectiveC2
Es competente y engreído a partes iguales.They are competent and conceited in equal parts.
presuntuosoself-importantAdjectiveC2
El informe suena presuntuoso sin decir gran cosa.The report sounds self-important without saying very much.
meticulosometiculousAdjectiveC2
Es meticuloso hasta con lo que nadie va a revisar.They are meticulous even about what nobody is going to check.
escrupulososcrupulousAdjectiveC2
Es escrupuloso con los plazos ajenos, no solo con los suyos.They are scrupulous about other people's deadlines, not only their own.
tenaztenaciousAdjectiveC2
Es tenaz sin ser obstinado.They are tenacious without being obstinate.
obstinadoobstinateAdjectiveC2
Se puso obstinado en un detalle sin importancia.They turned obstinate over a detail of no importance.
inflexibleunbendingAdjectiveC2
Es inflexible en lo que considera esencial.They are unbending on what they consider essential.
conciliadorconciliatoryAdjectiveC2
Su papel conciliador salvó la negociación.Their conciliatory part saved the negotiation.
resolutivodecisiveAdjectiveC2
Es resolutivo cuando hay poco tiempo y poca información.They are decisive when there is little time and little information.
indecisoundecidedAdjectiveC2
Se muestra indeciso solo en lo que le importa.They are undecided only about what matters to them.
previsorfar-sightedAdjectiveC2
Es previsor hasta el punto de resultar pesimista.They are far-sighted to the point of sounding pessimistic.
imprudenteunwiseAdjectiveC2
Fue imprudente al contarlo por escrito.It was unwise of them to put it in writing.
cautocautiousAdjectiveC2
Se mostró cauto hasta tener el documento en la mano.They stayed cautious until they had the document in their hand.
perspicazperceptiveAdjectiveC2
Una observación perspicaz cambió el enfoque del proyecto.A perceptive remark changed the whole approach of the project.
sagazshrewdAdjectiveC2
Es sagaz para leer lo que no se dice.They are shrewd at reading what is not said.
ingenuoguilelessAdjectiveC2
No es ingenuo: elige creer.They are not guileless: they choose to believe.
avispadoquick on the uptakeAdjectiveC2
El chico es avispado y aprende mirando.The boy is quick on the uptake and learns by watching.
despistadoabsent-mindedAdjectiveC2
Es despistado con las llaves y exacto con las cifras.They are absent-minded about keys and exact about figures.
metódicomethodicalAdjectiveC2
Es metódico hasta cuando improvisa.They are methodical even when improvising.
volublechangeableAdjectiveC2
Es voluble en las opiniones y firme en los principios.They are changeable in their opinions and firm in their principles.
íntegroincorruptibleAdjectiveC2
Es íntegro también cuando le sale caro.They are incorruptible even when it costs them.
cabalthoroughly decentAdjectiveC2
Es una persona cabal, y eso se sabe sin preguntarlo.They are a thoroughly decent person, and that is known without asking.
servicialobligingAdjectiveC2
Es servicial sin esperar nada a cambio.They are obliging without expecting anything back.
desprendidoopen-handedAdjectiveC2
Fue desprendido con su tiempo, que es lo que menos tenía.They were open-handed with their time, which was what they had least of.
mezquinomean and pettyAdjectiveC2
El gesto fue mezquino y todos lo notaron.The gesture was mean and petty and everybody noticed.
rencorosounforgivingAdjectiveC2
No es rencoroso: es que no olvida.They are not unforgiving: they simply do not forget.
susceptibleeasily offendedAdjectiveC2
Es susceptible con lo que toca a su trabajo.They are easily offended about anything touching their work.
flemáticoimperturbableAdjectiveC2
Se mantuvo flemático mientras todo se venía abajo.They stayed imperturbable while everything came down.
impulsivoimpulsiveAdjectiveC2
Es impulsivo al hablar y prudente al firmar.They are impulsive in speech and prudent in signing.
vehementevehementAdjectiveC2
Defendió su postura de forma vehemente y educada.They defended their position vehemently and politely.
comedidomeasuredAdjectiveC2
Fue comedido en la crítica y claro en el fondo.They were measured in the criticism and clear on the substance.
Phrase (8)
parco en palabrassparing of wordsPhraseC2
Es parco en palabras y preciso en las que usa.They are sparing of words and exact in the ones they use.
modesto en el tratomodest in mannerPhraseC2
Es modesto en el trato y ambicioso en el trabajo.They are modest in manner and ambitious in the work.
poco dado a llamar la atenciónnot one for drawing attentionPhraseC2
Es poco dado a llamar la atención y hace más que nadie.They are not one for drawing attention and do more than anybody.
poco cuidadoso con el acabadocareless about the finishPhraseC2
Es poco cuidadoso con el acabado y muy bueno en el fondo.They are careless about the finish and very good on the substance.
arriesgado hasta la temeridaddaring to the point of recklessnessPhraseC2
La maniobra fue arriesgada hasta la temeridad y salió bien.The manoeuvre was daring to the point of recklessness and it came off.
atento a los detallesattentive to the detailsPhraseC2
Es atento a los detalles que a nadie más le importan.They are attentive to the details that matter to nobody else.
constante en el esfuerzosteady in effortPhraseC2
Es constante en el esfuerzo aunque no lo parezca.They are steady in effort even when it does not look like it.
de trato difícildifficult to deal withPhraseC2
Es de trato difícil y de palabra segura.They are difficult to deal with and reliable in what they say.
This list belongs to People and feelings — 13 lists and 640 words that can also be practised as a whole.