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Personality Traits in Spanish
Everyone has both positive and negative qualities when it comes to their personalities. Therefore, it's important to have a good understanding of the variety of adjectives used in Spanish to describe a person's characteristics. Keep this guide handy and you'll have no problem describing yourself and others!
Using the Verb Ser to Talk About Personality Traits
Since personality traits are seen as constant and unchanging, the verb ser, rather than estar, is always used with personality adjectives. For example, if we were to use the adjective simpático/a, meaning "nice," you would conjugate the verb ser in the present tense.
Yo soy simpático/a.
I am nice.
Tú eres simpático/a.
You are nice.
Él/Ella es simpático/a.
He/She is nice.
Nosotros/as somos simpáticos/as.
We are nice.
Vosotros/as sois simpáticos/as.
You guys are nice.
Ellos/Ellas son simpáticos/as.
They are nice.
Making Adjectives Agree in Number and Gender
Remember that personality trait adjectives must always agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. Many adjectives end in "o" which means they must be changed to "a" when they modify a feminine noun. Here is an example using the adjective cómico, meaning "funny."
Él es cómico.
He is funny.
Ellos son cómicos.
They (male) are funny.
Ella es cómica.
She is funny.
Ellas son cómicas.
They (female) are funny.
Keep in mind that there are also several personality trait adjectives that are gender neutral. Many of these adjectives end in "e." Don't forget that these adjectives still need to agree in number. Here is an example with the adjective inteligente, meanng "intelligent."
El hombre es inteligente.
The man is intelligent.
Los hombres son inteligentes.
The men are intelligent.
La mujer es inteligente.
The woman is intelligent.
Las mujeres son inteligentes.
The women are intelligent.
Also, keep in mind that some adjectives, such as pesimista (pessimistic) and egoísta (egotistical), end in "a" for both female and male nouns.
Positive Personality Trait Adjectives
Here is a list of the most common adjectives used to talk about the positive characteristics of a person.
agradable
pleasant/nice
amable/amigable
friendly
ambicioso/a
ambitious
aventurero/a
adventurous
buena gente
a good person
cómico/a
funny
divertido/a
fun
estudioso/a
studious
extrovertido/a
extroverted
fiel
loyal
generoso/a
generous
honesto/a
honest
optimista
optimistic
organizado/a
organized
paciente
patient
práctico
practical
prudente
cautious
simpático/a
nice
sincero/a
sincere
sociable
social/out-going
trabajador/a
hard worker
valiente
brave
Negative Personality Traits
Here is a list of the most common adjectives used to talk about the negative characteristics of a person.
aburrido/a
boring
agresivo/a
aggressive
antipático/a
unfriendly
despistado/a
scatter-brained/absent-minded
egoísta
egotistical
introvertido/a
introverted
impaciente
impatient
imprudente
careless
maleducado/a
rude
mimado/a
spoiled
reservado/a
reserved
perezoso/a
lazy
pesimista
pessimistic
serio/a
serious
tacaño/a
cheap
timido/a
shy
With this guide in your back pocket you will be prepared to describe your favorite, and least favorite, personality traits, as well as those of the people around you.
positive and negative personality traits
Here are links with extra resources and practice:
https://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/lessons/personality-in-spanish Links to an external site.
https://www.lingolex.com/personalidad.htm Links to an external site.