AÜM: Describing yourself and others

Describing yourself and others

As you go through this task, notice that many terms in this vocabulary are either very similar or identical in English. Those words are called cognates. There are also false cognates or "falsche Freunde ("false friends"), words that look similar or identical to words in English but mean something completely different. As you learn this vocabulary, see how many cognates and false cognates you can identify!

Vocabulary related to personal characteristics

Reminder: the vocabulary on this page can be found in the Module Key Terms list Links to an external site..

Listen to these questions and attempt to pronounce them yourself:

  • Was für ein Mensch ...?
    • What kind of person ...?
  • Wie ist diese Person?
    • How is this person?

Pronunciation Practice

Click the play button below to hear to the pronunciation of the following descriptive adjectives (each word is pronounced twice). Pause the recording after the pronunciation of each word and practice your own pronunciation of it.

  • aktiv = active
  • arrogant = arrogant
  • beliebt/populär = popular
  • dumm/doof = dumb
  • ehrlich = honest
  • elegant = elegant, classy
  • ernst = serious
  • fantastisch = fantastic
  • faul = lazy
  • fit = fit, feeling good
  • fleißig = hard-working, industrious
  • freundlich = kind, friendly
  • froh = happy
  • gemein = rude, low, ignorant
  • gesund = healthy
  • glücklich = happy, lucky
  • gut = good
  • gut angezogen = well-dressed
  • gut gelaunt = in a good mood, good-humoured
  • hochnäsig = snobby, stuck-up
  • höflich = polite
  • unhöflich = rude
  • intelligent = smart, intelligent
  • interessant = interesting
  • jung = young
  • klasse/toll/super/spitze = great, super, terrific
  • klug = clever, intelligent; smart
  • komisch = strange, funny, weird
  • kreativ = creative
  • kritisch = critical
  • laut = loud
  • musikalisch = musical
  • nett = nice
  • niedlich = cute
  • pünktlich = punctual, on time
  • reich = rich
  • religiös = religious
  • romantisch = romantic
  • schick = chic, stylish
  • schlecht = bad
  • spät = late
  • sportlich = athletic
  • stark = strong, cool
  • süß = sweet, nice
  • sympathisch = likable, friendly, nice
  • witzig = funny, smart-alecky
  • athletisch = athletic
  • attraktiv = attractive
  • blond = blond
  • rothaarig = redheaded
  • braunhaarig = brunette
  • cool = cool
  • dick/fett = fat, thick
  • dünn = thin
  • elegant = elegant
  • groß = big, large, tall
  • gutaussehend = good-looking
  • hässlich = ugly
  • hübsch = handsome, pretty
  • klein = small, little, short
  • mittelgroß = average height
  • schlank = slim
  • schön = beautiful
  • zierlich = graceful; petite, delicate

 

Practice Activities

Activity 1

Activity 2

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