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Building BlocksElementary

How to Describe Things in Spanish

What to say when you don't know the word - describe shape, material, size, colour, and function

What You'll Learn

  • Describe objects by shape, size, colour, material, and texture
  • Explain what something is used for (sirve para, se usa para)
  • Say where you find something (se encuentra en, está en)
  • Ask "What's the word for...?" and "How do you say...?"
  • Use to communicate when you lack vocabulary
  • Apply correct with descriptive adjectives

Overview

You're in a shop in Madrid. You need a corkscrew, but you have no idea what the Spanish word is. What do you do? You describe it. This is one of the most practical skills you can develop as a Spanish learner - the ability to talk around the word you don't know.

The Circumlocution Toolkit

Ask for Help

Busco algo que sirve para abrir botellas
I'm looking for something that's used to open bottles

Describe It

Es una cosa pequeña, de metal, con una espiral
It's a small, metal thing with a spiral

Compare It

Es como un destornillador, pero con una espiral
It's like a screwdriver, but with a spiral

This technique is called circumlocution - talking around a word you don't know. It's a vital survival skill that works in shops, pharmacies, restaurants, and any situation where your vocabulary runs out. The formula is simple: shape + size + colour + material + function.

Structure & Formation

1. Asking for Help

Start by signalling that you need help finding or naming something. These phrases let the other person know you're about to describe what you need.

SpanishEnglishWhen to use
¿Cómo se dice...?How do you say...?You know the English word
¿Cómo se llama...?What is it called...?You can point at or describe something
¿Tiene algo para...?Do you have something for...?In a shop or pharmacy
Busco algo que...I'm looking for something that...Describing what you need
Necesito una cosa que...I need a thing that...Explaining a specific need
¿Sabe cómo se llama esto?Do you know what this is called?Pointing at something
No sé la palabra, pero...I don't know the word, but...Before describing something

2. Shape - La Forma

Describe the shape using es/tiene forma de + shape, or use shape adjectives directly. Remember that adjectives must agree in gender with the noun they describe.

SpanishEnglishExample
redondo/aroundEs redondo como una pelota
cuadrado/asquareTiene forma cuadrada
rectangularrectangularEs rectangular y plano
triangulartriangularTiene forma triangular
ovalado/aovalEs ovalado, como un huevo
cilíndrico/acylindricalEs cilíndrico y largo
plano/aflatEs plano y fino
alargado/aelongatedEs alargado y estrecho
curvo/acurvedTiene una forma curva

3. Size - El Tamano

Size words are some of the most useful descriptors. Combine them to be more precise: "Es grande y ancho" (It's big and wide).

General Size

grandebig / large
pequeño/asmall
mediano/amedium
enormeenormous
diminuto/atiny

Length & Height

largo/along
corto/ashort (length)
alto/atall / high
bajo/ashort (height) / low

Width & Thickness

ancho/awide
estrecho/anarrow
grueso/athick
fino/athin / fine

4. Colour - El Color

Use es de color + colour or just the colour directly as an adjective. Most colours agree in gender and number, but some (like naranja, rosa, violeta) don't change.

rojo/a
red
azul
blue
verde
green
amarillo/a
yellow
naranja
orange
morado/a
purple
rosa
pink
blanco/a
white
negro/a
black
gris
grey
marrón
brown
dorado/a
gold / golden
plateado/a
silver
beige
beige / cream
transparente
transparent

Modifiers: Use claro (light) and oscuro (dark) after the colour:azul claro (light blue) / verde oscuro (dark green) / rojo oscuro (dark red)

5. Material - El Material

Use es de + material (without an article). This is one of the most important patterns for describing objects. Note: don't add an article after "de" for materials.

SpanishEnglishExample
de maderamade of woodLa mesa es de madera
de metalmade of metalLas llaves son de metal
de plásticomade of plasticLa botella es de plástico
de cristal / de vidriomade of glassEl vaso es de cristal
de telamade of fabric / clothLa bolsa es de tela
de cueromade of leatherEl cinturón es de cuero
de papelmade of paperEl sobre es de papel
de gomamade of rubberLos guantes son de goma
de cerámicamade of ceramicEl plato es de cerámica
de algodónmade of cottonLa camiseta es de algodón
de oromade of goldEl anillo es de oro
de platamade of silverLa pulsera es de plata
de aceromade of steelLa olla es de acero
de hierromade of ironLa puerta es de hierro
de piedramade of stoneLa pared es de piedra
de lanamade of woolEl jersey es de lana
de sedamade of silkLa corbata es de seda

6. Texture & Surface - La Textura

Texture words help when the feel of the object is distinctive. These adjectives must agree with the noun's gender and number.

Touch & Feel

suavesoft / smooth
áspero/arough
liso/asmooth / flat
rugoso/abumpy / rough
pegajoso/asticky

Hardness & Flexibility

duro/ahard
blando/asoft (not hard)
flexibleflexible
rígido/arigid
resbaladizo/aslippery

7. What It's Used For - Para Que Sirve

Explaining function is often the key to making someone understand what you mean. Use sirve para, se usa para, or es para followed by an infinitive.

Sirve para + infinitive

It serves to / It's used for

Sirve para cortar papel
It's used for cutting paper

Se usa para + infinitive

It's used for / You use it for

Se usa para abrir botellas
It's used for opening bottles

Es para + infinitive

It's for (doing something)

Es para limpiar los platos
It's for cleaning the dishes
Sirve para medir la temperatura
It's used for measuring temperature
Se usa para proteger las manos
It's used to protect your hands
Es para guardar la comida
It's for storing food
Sirve para sujetar papeles juntos
It's used for holding papers together

8. Where You Find It - Donde Se Encuentra

Sometimes saying where you find something is enough for the other person to understand what you mean.

StructureExampleTranslation
Se encuentra en...Se encuentra en la cocinaIt's found in the kitchen
Esta en...Normalmente esta en el banoIt's usually in the bathroom
Lo/La puedes encontrar en...Lo puedes encontrar en una ferreteriaYou can find it at a hardware store
Se vende en...Se vende en la farmaciaIt's sold at the pharmacy
Lo/La usan en...Lo usan en los hospitalesThey use it in hospitals

9. What It's Similar To - Comparisons

When all else fails, compare it to something the listener might know. This is incredibly effective for unusual or specialised objects.

Es como un/una...
It's like a...
Es como un cuchillo grande
It's like a big knife
Se parece a...
It looks like...
Se parece a una cuchara, pero es plana
It looks like a spoon, but flat
Es parecido/a a...
It's similar to...
Es parecido a un tenedor
It's similar to a fork
Es una especie de...
It's a kind of...
Es una especie de bolsa
It's a kind of bag
Es como... pero...
It's like... but...
Es como unas tijeras, pero mas grande
It's like scissors, but bigger

10. Putting It All Together - The Formula

Combine everything into one description. The more details you give, the easier it is for the other person to understand what you need. Here's the formula:

The Description Formula

Es una cosa + [shape/size] + [colour] + de [material] + que sirve para [function]

Example: Describing a stapler (una grapadora)

Es una cosa pequeña, de metal y plástico, que sirve para sujetar papeles juntos. Se usa en la oficina.
It's a small thing, made of metal and plastic, that's used for holding papers together. You use it in the office.

Example: Describing a colander (un escurridor / un colador)

Es como un bol grande, de plástico o metal, con muchos agujeros pequeños. Sirve para escurrir la pasta o lavar verduras.
It's like a big bowl, made of plastic or metal, with lots of small holes. It's used for draining pasta or washing vegetables.

Example: Describing a plunger (un desatascador)

Es una cosa con un palo largo de madera y una parte redonda de goma en un extremo. Se usa para desatascar el inodoro. Se vende en una ferreteria.
It's a thing with a long wooden stick and a round rubber part on one end. It's used for unblocking the toilet. It's sold at a hardware store.

Examples

At the Pharmacy

Medicine
Necesito algo para el dolor de cabeza
I need something for a headache
Sunburn cream
Busco una crema para las quemaduras del sol
I'm looking for a cream for sunburn
Cough medicine
¿Tiene algo que sirve para la tos?
Do you have something for a cough?
Plasters
Necesito unas tiras pequenas que se pegan a la piel para cubrir heridas
I need small strips that stick to the skin to cover wounds

At a Hardware Store

Screwdriver
Busco una herramienta que sirve para apretar tornillos
I'm looking for a tool used for tightening screws
Tape measure
Necesito algo largo y flexible para medir cosas
I need something long and flexible for measuring things
Glue
¿Tiene una cosa que pega cosas juntas? Es liquida y transparente.
Do you have a thing that sticks things together? It's liquid and transparent.
Saw blade
Busco algo de metal, fino y plano, que sirve para cortar madera
I'm looking for something metal, thin and flat, used for cutting wood

In a Restaurant

Wet wipe
¿Tiene algo para limpiar las manos? Como una toallita humeda.
Do you have something to clean hands? Like a wet wipe.
Corkscrew
Necesito la cosa que se usa para abrir las botellas de vino
I need the thing used for opening wine bottles
Sauce bowl
¿Me puede traer un recipiente pequeno para la salsa?
Can you bring me a small container for the sauce?
Napkin
Busco la cosa de papel que se pone en las piernas para no mancharse
I'm looking for the paper thing you put on your legs to not stain yourself

At a Shop

Tote bag
Busco una bolsa grande de tela para llevar cosas
I'm looking for a large fabric bag to carry things
Keyring
¿Tiene algo redondo, de metal, que se pone en las llaves?
Do you have something round, metal, that goes on keys?
Phone case
Necesito algo para proteger el teléfono, es como una funda de plástico
I need something to protect the phone, like a plastic case
Mouse pad
Busco una cosa plana y rectangular que sirve para apoyar el ratón del ordenador
I'm looking for a flat, rectangular thing used to rest the computer mouse on

Objects Described with the Formula

Corkscrew (sacacorchos)
Es una cosa pequeña de metal con una espiral que sirve para abrir botellas de vino
A small metal thing with a spiral used to open wine bottles
Bin (cubo de basura)
Es un recipiente grande de plástico con una tapa que sirve para guardar basura
A large plastic container with a lid used for storing rubbish
Plate (plato)
Es una cosa plana y redonda de cerámica que se usa para comer
A flat, round ceramic thing you use for eating
Hose (manguera)
Es un tubo largo y flexible de goma que sirve para regar el jardín
A long, flexible rubber tube used for watering the garden

Common Mistakes

Common Description Mistakes

Wrong: Es hecho de madera
Correct: Es de madera / Esta hecho de madera

Use "es de" for material, or "esta hecho de" (with estar, not ser) to say "it's made of"

Wrong: Es de la madera
Correct: Es de madera

Don't use an article after "de" when describing material - just say "de madera", "de metal", etc.

Wrong: Es un cosa redondo
Correct: Es una cosa redonda

"Cosa" is feminine, so use "una" and "redonda" - adjectives must agree in gender

Wrong: Sirve por cortar
Correct: Sirve para cortar

Use "para" (not "por") when explaining purpose or function

Wrong: Es como a una cuchara
Correct: Es como una cuchara

Don't add an extra "a" after "como" - just say "es como un/una..."

"Es como" vs "Se parece a"

Both can mean "it's like," but they're used slightly differently:

Es como (It's like):

Es como unas tijeras, pero mas grande
It's like scissors, but bigger

General comparison - function or concept

Se parece a (It looks like):

Se parece a un boligrafo, pero es mas grueso
It looks like a pen, but it's thicker

Visual / physical resemblance

Gender Agreement with Descriptive Adjectives

Most shape, size, and texture adjectives change based on the noun's gender. Adjectives ending in -e or a consonant don't change:

Changes: redondo → redonda

Un plato redondo / Una mesa redonda

No change: grande, verde, flexible

Un coche grande / Una casa grande

Quick Test

Test your ability to describe things in Spanish - a vital skill for real-world communication!

1. You're at a pharmacy and need plasters. How would you start your request?

2. How do you say 'It's made of wood' in Spanish?

3. Which phrase correctly explains what a tool is used for?

4. Someone describes: 'Es una cosa redonda, plana, de cerámica, que se usa para comer.' What is it?

5. How would you describe the colour 'light blue'?

6. Which sentence correctly uses a comparison to describe something unknown?

7. You need to describe a corkscrew. Which is the best description?

8. What's the difference between 'suave' and 'blando'?

9. How do you ask 'How do you say [something] in Spanish?'

10. You want to say 'It's found in the kitchen.' Which is correct?

Useful Resources

Coming soon...