Describing Physical Appearance in Tagalog
Learn how to describe physical appearance in Tagalog with clear English translations and expand your Filipino vocabulary. You’ll get the Tagalog words for hair, eyes, height, build, facial features, and overall appearance, all explained in practical, everyday contexts. These terms help you describe people, compliment others, or write character descriptions confidently in conversations, stories, or professional settings.
Tagalog Adjectives to Describe Physical Appearance
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| anyó | appearance |
| hitsura | appearance |
| maganda | beautiful |
| pogi | handsome |
| guwapo | handsome |
| makisig | dashing / elegant-looking |
| kaakit-akit | attractive |
| maamo | kind-looking / gentle-faced |
| pangit | ugly |
| mukhang bata | youthful-looking |
| mukhang matanda | old-looking |
| matangkad | tall |
| mababa | short / not tall |
| pandak (offensive) | short in stature |
| payat | thin / slim |
| balingkinitan | slender |
| matipuno | well-built / brawny |
| maskulado | muscular |
| mataba | fat |
| malusog | healthy-looking / robust |
| maputi | fair-skinned |
| maitim | dark-skinned |
| kayumanggi | brown-skinned |
| mamula-mula | rosy (cheeks) |
| maputla | pale |
| mapekas | freckled |
| makinis | smooth-skinned |
| kulubot | wrinkled |
| kulot | curly-haired |
| tuwid ang buhok | straight-haired |
| mahaba ang buhok | long-haired |
| maikli ang buhok | short-haired |
| makapal ang buhok | thick-haired |
| manipis ang buhok | thin-haired |
| ubanin | gray-haired |
| kalbo | bald |
| makapal ang kilay | thick/bushy eyebrows |
| malaki ang mata | big-eyed |
| maliit ang mata | small-eyed |
| singkit | narrow-eyed |
| mahaba ang pilik mata | long-lashed |
| matangos ang ilong | high-bridged nose |
| pango | flat-nosed |
| makapal ang labi | thick lips |
| manipis ang labi | thin lips |
| bulag | blind / visually-impaired |
| duling | cross-eyed |
| banlag | wall-eyed |
| bingot | cleft-lipped |
| mahaba ang baba | long/protruding chin |
| sakang | bow-legged |
| piki | knock-kneed |
| pilay | lame / has a limp |
Cultural Note:
In the Philippines, singkit is a neutral, non-derogatory term for narrow eyes, often describing East Asian features. In casual speech, it can even be used affectionately.
Ready to test how well you can describe physical appearance in Filipino? Take the short quiz below and see how you do.
| Ang guwapo talaga ni Liu Yuning. |
| (Liu Yuning is really handsome.) |
| Kulot ang buhok naming magkakapatid. |
| (All of us siblings have curly hair..) |
| Maamo ang mukha ng babae. |
| (The woman has a kind-looking face.) |
| Kayumanggi ang balat ng mga Pilipino. |
| (Filipinos have brown skin.) |
| Payat ang pamangkin kong si Lily. |
| (My niece Lily is slim/thin.) |
| Hindi naman siya pangit. Ayos lang ang hitsura niya. |
| (She’s not ugly or anything. She looks okay.) |
| Matangos ang ilong ni Daniel. |
| (Daniel has a prominent nose.) |
Can you describe someone’s appearance in Tagalog? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of Filipino words for height, body type, hair, and other features! Try to say the correct Tagalog word before clicking the toggle to check your answer. This is a fun and engaging way to expand your Tagalog vocabulary for physical descriptions!
1. What do you call a person who is beautiful in terms of appearance?
Answer: maganda
2. What's the best word to describe Henry Cavill?
Answer: pogi or guwapo (handsome)
3. Emiliano Martinez stands at 6 feet 5 inches. How do you describe him?
Answer: matangkad (tall)
4. What do you call someone with fair or light skin?
Answer: maputi
5. What is a common physical trait among models in terms of body build?
Answer: payat (thin / slim)
Watch more Tagalog Learning Videos
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Learn Tagalog words for family and relatives with clear English meanings and correct pronunciation in this beginner-friendly Filipino language lesson. Discover common Tagalog terms for family members and relationships used in everyday conversations.
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