Tell me how you look in Spanish

Summary

In this Spanish lesson, Ana teaches how to describe yourself using the verbs *ser* (to be) and *tener* (to have). She explains how *ser* is used for describing inherent qualities (e.g., height, size) and *tener* for physical attributes (e.g., eyes, hair). Through various examples, Ana highlights adjective agreement in gender and number and cultural nuances, such as how terms like 'fat' (*gordo*) are commonly used in Spanish. The lesson also covers how to ask questions about appearance and practice describing others, offering essential tools for building conversational skills in Spanish.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Ser** (to be) and **Tener** (to have) are the two main verbs used to describe yourself in Spanish.
• 😀 The verb **ser** is used for describing inherent qualities like height, weight, and general traits (e.g., *Soy alta* - I am tall).
• 😀 The verb **tener** is used to describe body parts or specific features (e.g., *Tengo el cabello castaño* - I have brown hair).
• 😀 In Spanish, adjectives change based on gender (e.g., *delgado* for men, *delgada* for women).
• 😀 When using **ser**, adjectives describing physical traits follow the verb (e.g., *Soy gordo* - I am fat).
• 😀 **Tener** is used to talk about possession, including body parts (e.g., *Tengo los ojos azules* - I have blue eyes).
• 😀 When conjugating **ser** and **tener**, the verb changes according to the subject (e.g., *Yo soy*, *Tú eres*, *Él tiene*).
• 😀 Some adjectives, like *gordo* (fat), are used more casually in Spanish than in English, where it might be considered impolite.
• 😀 **Ser** is irregular, meaning its conjugation changes depending on the subject (e.g., *Yo soy*, *Tú eres*, *Nosotros somos*).
• 😀 You don’t need to include the subject pronoun (like *yo*) in Spanish because the verb conjugation indicates the subject (e.g., *Soy alta* is understood as 'I am tall').
• 😀 In Spanish-speaking countries, there may be regional differences in vocabulary, like using *cabello* for hair instead of *pelo*.

Q & A

What are the two verbs used in Spanish to describe oneself?

The two verbs used in Spanish to describe oneself are 'ser' and 'tener'.

What does the verb 'ser' mean in English, and how is it conjugated?

'Ser' means 'to be' in English. It is an irregular verb, and its conjugation changes based on the subject: 'yo soy', 'tú eres', 'él/ella es', 'nosotros somos', 'ustedes son'.

What is an adjective, and how is it used in the sentence structure?

An adjective is a word that describes a quality of a noun, such as 'tall', 'short', 'thin', or 'fat'. In the sentence, adjectives follow the verb 'ser' to describe the person (e.g., 'yo soy alto' means 'I am tall').

How is 'tener' used to describe oneself, and what does it mean?

'Tener' means 'to have' in English, and it is used to describe body parts or possessions. For example, 'yo tengo los ojos verdes' means 'I have green eyes'.

What is the difference between 'ser' and 'tener' in terms of describing yourself?

'Ser' is used to describe inherent qualities or characteristics (e.g., 'I am tall' or 'I am thin'), while 'tener' is used to describe possession or parts of the body (e.g., 'I have brown eyes' or 'I have a round face').

How does the adjective change when describing a male vs. a female in Spanish?

In Spanish, adjectives change according to the gender of the person being described. For example, 'alto' (tall) is used for a male, while 'alta' (tall) is used for a female.

What are some examples of adjectives used to describe body characteristics?

Some examples of adjectives used to describe body characteristics are 'delgado' (thin), 'gordo' (fat), 'alto' (tall), 'bajo' (short), and 'delgada' (slender, feminine).

How do you ask someone about their physical appearance in Spanish?

To ask someone about their physical appearance in Spanish, you can say '¿Cómo eres?' (informal) or '¿Cómo es usted?' (formal).

Can you explain the cultural difference in using the word 'gordo' in Spanish versus English?

In Spanish, the word 'gordo' (fat) is generally not considered rude or offensive and is commonly used in everyday language. In contrast, in English, calling someone 'fat' can be considered rude or insensitive.

How do you describe eye color in Spanish?

To describe eye color in Spanish, you use the verb 'tener' and the color adjective. For example, 'tengo los ojos verdes' means 'I have green eyes', or 'tienes los ojos azules' means 'you have blue eyes'.