Enhance Your IELTS Speaking Skills: Essential Vocabulary for Describing People

- In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of vocabulary words and phrases that will empower you to paint vivid portraits of individuals during your IELTS Speaking test. Whether you are aiming for a higher band score or simply looking to enhance your language skills, this collection of descriptive vocabulary will prove invaluable in showcasing your linguistic proficiency and communication abilities.

In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, you will be given a cue card which has a question with four sub-questions and you need to speak on that topic. One of the possible topics is related to a person, such as a friend, family member, or role model. Your task is to speak about that person for two minutes, expressing your thoughts, opinions, and describing their attributes. To effectively convey your ideas, it is essential to have a diverse range of vocabulary at your disposal. By incorporating both simple and advanced words, idioms, phrasal verbs, collocations, and more, you can elevate your language use and leave a lasting impression on the examiner.

Positive adjectives to describe a person (along with example sentences)

• Friendly - She has a friendly smile that makes everyone feel welcome.
  
  
• Ambitious - He is an ambitious young entrepreneur with big dreams.
  
  
• Reliable - Sarah is a reliable team member who always meets deadlines.
  
  
• Intelligent - John is an intelligent student who excels in his studies.
  
  
• Creative - Emily has a creative mind and produces stunning artwork.
  
  
• Confident - He walked into the room with a confident stride.
  
  
• Charismatic - The politician's charismatic personality captivated the audience.
  
  
• Honest - She is known for her honesty and integrity.
  
  
• Generous - Tom is a generous person who is always willing to help others.
  
  
• Hardworking - Sarah is a hardworking employee who goes the extra mile.
  
  
• Optimistic - Despite the challenges, she maintains an optimistic outlook on life.
  
  
• Determined - He is a determined athlete who never gives up.
  
  
• Patient - The teacher was patient with her students' questions.
  
  
• Outgoing - Mark is an outgoing individual who enjoys socializing.
  
  
• Resourceful - Jane is a resourceful problem solver who can find solutions quickly.
  
  
• Thoughtful - He always considers others' feelings and is a thoughtful friend.
  
  
• Compassionate - She has a compassionate nature and volunteers at a local shelter.
  
  
• Analytical - The scientist's analytical approach led to groundbreaking discoveries.
  
  
• Persevering - Despite setbacks, she is a persevering individual who keeps pushing forward.
  
  
• Adaptable - He quickly adapts to new environments and changes.
  
  
• Assertive - The manager is assertive in expressing her opinions and making decisions.
  
  
• Sociable - Lisa is a sociable person who enjoys being around others.
  
  
• Energetic - The children were full of energy and enthusiasm.
  
  
• Independent - Jack is an independent thinker who doesn't rely on others' opinions.
  
  
• Reliable - She is a reliable friend who you can always count on.
  
  
• Warm-hearted - His warm-hearted nature makes him beloved by everyone.
  
  
• Diligent - Susan is a diligent worker who pays attention to every detail.
  
  
• Enthusiastic - The team showed enthusiastic support for their project.
  
  
• Modest - Despite her achievements, she remains humble and modest.
  
  
• Respectful - He is always respectful towards others and their opinions.
  
  
• Articulate - The speaker was articulate, expressing her ideas clearly.
  
  
• Versatile - She is a versatile actress who can perform in various genres.
  
  
• Discerning - His discerning taste in fashion always impresses others.
  
  
• Wise - Grandma's wise advice helped me make important decisions.
  
  
• Influential - The CEO is an influential figure in the business world.
  
  
• Meticulous - The architect's meticulous attention to detail ensured a flawless design.
  
  
• Reliable - He is a reliable source of information on the topic.
  
  
• Supportive - My parents have always been supportive of my dreams.
  
  
• Courageous - The firefighter's courageous actions saved lives.
  
  
• Humble - Despite his success, he remains humble and down to earth.
  
  
• Open-minded - She has an open-minded attitude towards new ideas.
  
  
• Visionary - Steve Jobs was a visionary leader who revolutionized technology.
  
  
• Genuine - Her smile and kind words showed her genuine compassion.
  
  
• Loyal - He is a loyal friend who stands by you in tough times.
  
  
• Astute - The detective's astute observation led to the breakthrough in the case.
  
  
• Resilient - Despite facing adversity, she is a resilient individual who bounces back.
  
  
• Exuberant - The children's exuberant laughter filled the room.
  
  
• Sophisticated - The professor had a sophisticated understanding of the subject matter.
  
  
• Inspiring - Her story is inspiring and motivates others to pursue their dreams.
  
  
• Trustworthy - He is a trustworthy colleague who keeps his promises.

Here are some phrases, including idioms, phrasal verbs, and collocations, that can be used to describe a person:

• A heart of gold (very kind and generous) - She has a heart of gold and is always willing to help others.
  
  
• Go the extra mile (make additional effort beyond what is expected) - He always goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.
  
  
• Light up the room (bring joy and brightness to a space) - Her smile lights up the room whenever she enters.
  
  
• Keep one's cool (remain calm and composed) - Even in stressful situations, he manages to keep his cool.
  
  
• Stand out from the crowd (be noticeably different or exceptional) - She has a unique sense of style that makes her stand out from the crowd.
  
  
• Hit it off (quickly establish a good rapport or connection) - They met at a party and immediately hit it off.
  
  
• Born leader (naturally possess leadership qualities) - He is a born leader who naturally takes charge in any situation.
  
  
• In the limelight (being the centre of attention) - She enjoys being in the limelight and thrives on attention.
  
  
• Jack of all trades (proficient in many skills or areas) - He's a jack of all trades and can handle various tasks with ease.
  
  
• Have a way with words (express oneself eloquently or persuasively) - She has a way with words and can eloquently express her thoughts.
  
  
• Think outside the box (to think creatively and unconventionally) - He is a creative thinker who always thinks outside the box.
  
  
• Catch someone's eye (to attract someone’s attention) - Her stunning performance caught the director's eye.
  
  
• Wear one's heart on one's sleeve (to openly and visibly show one’s emotions and feelings) - She wears her heart on her sleeve and is very open about her emotions.
  
  
• Keep up with the Joneses (to strive to match or surpass the lifestyle or possessions of others) - They always try to keep up with the Joneses and have the latest gadgets.
  
  
• Rub someone the wrong way (to irritate or annoy someone) - His sarcastic remarks often rub people the wrong way.
  
  
• Go-getter (an ambitious and enterprising person) - She is a go-getter who actively pursues her goals.
  
  
• Have a way with people (to possess the ability to interact and communicate effectively with others) - He has a way with people and can easily connect with others.
  
  
• Have a heart of stone (to lack empathy and compassion) - He showed no empathy or remorse, having a heart of stone.
  
  
• Stick to one's guns (to remain firm and resolute in one’s beliefs or decisions) - Despite opposition, she stuck to her guns and defended her beliefs.
  
  
• Steal the show (to attract the most attention or praise in a performance or event) - His outstanding performance stole the show at the talent competition.
  
  
• Keep one's chin up (to stay positive and hopeful in difficult situations) - Even in tough times, she keeps her chin up and remains positive.
  
  
• Call the shots (to be in control and make important decisions) - He is the boss and calls the shots in the company.
  
  
• Have a silver tongue (to have the ability to speak persuasively and eloquently) - He has a silver tongue and can convince anyone with his persuasive skills.
  
  
• A shoulder to lean on (to be intelligent and wise) - She's always there for her friends, offering a shoulder to lean on.
  
  
• Have a good head on one's shoulders (someone who provides support and comfort) - He has a good head on his shoulders and makes wise decisions.
  
  
• Social butterfly (someone who enjoys socializing and interacting with others) - She's a social butterfly, always engaging with different people at events.
  
  
• Master of their craft (someone who is highly skilled and knowledgeable in their profession) - He's a master of his craft, displaying exceptional skills and expertise.
  
  
• Bursting with energy (having an abundance of energy and enthusiasm) - She's always bursting with energy, ready to take on any challenge.
  
  
• Old soul (a person who is mature beyond their years) - Despite her young age, she possesses wisdom beyond her years and is often described as an old soul.
  
  
• Have a heart of compassion (to be deeply caring and empathetic) - He has a heart of compassion, always showing empathy and understanding towards others.
  
  
• Team player (someone who works well with others and contributes to the success of the team) - She is a team player, always willing to collaborate and contribute to the success of the group.
  
  
• Sharp as a tack (extremely quick-witted and intelligent) - He's sharp as a tack, quickly grasping complex concepts and making astute observations.
  
  
• Full of charisma (having a magnetic and charming personality) - He exudes charisma, effortlessly attracting and captivating those around him.
  
  
• Life of the party (someone who brings excitement and energy to social gatherings) - She's the life of the party, always bringing energy and fun to any gathering.
  
  
• Natural-born entertainer (someone who has an innate talent for entertaining others) - He's a natural-born entertainer, effortlessly captivating audiences with his performances.
  
  
• Deep thinker (someone who thinks profoundly and critically) - She's a deep thinker, often pondering profound ideas and philosophical concepts.
  
  
• Backbone of the family (a person who provides support and stability to their family) - She's the backbone of the family, providing support and stability in difficult times.
  
  
• Quick on their feet (someone who can think and react quickly in challenging situations) - He's quick on his feet, able to think and react rapidly in challenging situations.
  
  
• Light-hearted (having a cheerful and carefree nature) - She has a light-hearted nature, always bringing joy and laughter to those around her.
  
  
• Straight shooter (someone who is honest and direct in their communication) - He's a straight shooter, always honest and direct in his communication.
  
  
• A true original (someone who is unique and authentic, not conforming to societal norms) - She's a true original, possessing a unique personality and individuality.
  
  
• A ray of sunshine (someone who brings positivity and happiness to others) - She's a ray of sunshine, spreading positivity and warmth wherever she goes.
  His infectious smile and optimistic outlook on life make her a true ray of sunshine.
  
  
• Have a magnetic personality (to possess a compelling and attractive personality that draws others in) - He has a magnetic personality, drawing people towards him with his charm and charisma.
  
  
• Reliable as clockwork (someone who is consistently dependable and punctual) - She's reliable as clockwork, always punctual and dependable.
  
  
• Bursting with creativity (someone who has an abundance of creative ideas and imagination) - He's bursting with creativity, constantly coming up with innovative ideas and solutions.

 

These sample sentences are provided to help understand the meanings of the words and phrases. Understand the meanings and then create your own sentences using this vocabulary. 

Remember to use these phrases appropriately and in context to effectively describe a person and ace your IELTS Speaking test.