Personality Traits

In this lesson, you’ll learn basic and intermediate vocabulary to describe people’s personality traits in English. We will discuss words that carry different connotations—positive, negative, neutral, and medical—so you can be aware of polite and impolite ways of talking about people. Describing someone’s personality accurately and respectfully is important in everyday conversations, so understanding these nuances is key!

1. Friendly (positive)
   • A person who is kind and pleasant to others.
   • Example: “Sarah is very friendly; she always smiles and helps others.”
2. Shy (neutral/positive)
   • Someone who is nervous in social situations or doesn’t speak much.
   • Example: “Tom is a bit shy, but he opens up once you get to know him.”
3. Confident (positive)
   • Someone who believes in their abilities and acts without hesitation.
   • Example: “Maria is confident in her work, and it shows in her presentations.”
4. Lazy (negative)
   • A person who does not like working or making an effort.
   • Example: “John didn’t clean the house today; he’s so lazy.”
5. Generous (positive)
   • Willing to give or share more than is expected.
   • Example: “James is very generous; he always donates to charity.”
6. Stubborn (negative/neutral)
   • Someone who refuses to change their opinion or course of action.
   • Example: “My sister is stubborn; once she makes up her mind, she won’t change it.”
7. Introverted (neutral/medical in extreme cases)
   • Someone who prefers being alone or with a small group of friends rather than large social gatherings.
   • Example: “Paul is introverted and enjoys spending weekends at home reading.”
8. Charismatic (positive)
   • Someone who has a compelling charm that attracts others.
   • Example: “Her charismatic personality makes her the center of attention at every party.”
9. Impolite (negative)
   • Rude or disrespectful in behavior.
   • Example: “He was impolite when he didn’t say thank you after receiving the gift.”
10. Optimistic (positive)
    • Someone who always expects good things to happen.
    • Example: “Even in difficult situations, Alice remains optimistic.”
11. Pessimistic (negative)
    • A person who always expects bad things to happen.
    • Example: “Jack is pessimistic and worries that something will always go wrong.”
12. Ambitious (positive)
    • Someone who has a strong desire to achieve success.
    • Example: “Emily is ambitious and is always working toward her goals.”
13. Sensitive (neutral/negative)
    • A person who feels emotions deeply or is easily affected by others.
    • Example: “He’s sensitive to criticism, so be careful with your words.”
14. Cynical (negative)
    • Someone who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest.
    • Example: “Mark has a cynical view of the world and often distrusts others.”
15. Sincere (positive)
    • Someone who is honest and genuine.
    • Example: “Her sincere apology made everyone feel better.”
16. Sarcastic (negative/neutral)
    • A person who uses irony to mock or convey contempt.
    • Example: “He’s always sarcastic, which sometimes makes people uncomfortable.”
17. Reserved (neutral)
    • Someone who tends not to express emotions openly.
    • Example: “She is reserved, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care.”
18. Aggressive (negative)
    • A person who is forceful or hostile.
    • Example: “His aggressive behavior scared everyone away.”
19. Reliable (positive)
    • Someone who can be trusted to do something well.
    • Example: “Samantha is reliable; you can count on her to finish the project.”
20. Impulsive (negative)
    • A person who acts without thinking.
    • Example: “Don’t be impulsive; think it through before making a decision.”
21. Cheerful (positive)
    • Someone who is happy and full of energy.
    • Example: “His cheerful attitude brightened everyone’s day.”
22. Courageous (positive)
    • A person who is brave and willing to face difficult situations.
    • Example: “She is courageous in standing up for what she believes in.”
23. Selfish (negative)
    • Someone who cares only about themselves.
    • Example: “Her selfish actions hurt those around her.”
24. Talkative (neutral/negative)
    • Someone who talks a lot.
    • Example: “He’s very talkative and sometimes doesn’t know when to stop.”
25. Creative (positive)
    • A person who is imaginative and has new ideas.
    • Example: “She’s incredibly creative and comes up with brilliant designs.”

Explanation of Connotations:

• Positive Connotation: Words like friendly, confident, and generous suggest good or admirable qualities.
• Negative Connotation: Words like lazy and selfish carry a judgmental tone and can offend people.
• Neutral Connotation: Words like introverted and reserved can be neutral, depending on the context. Be mindful of cultural differences.
• Medical Connotation: Traits such as being introverted can sometimes be associated with medical conditions like anxiety in certain contexts, so it’s important to be cautious when using them.

Summary Table of Personality Traits

Exercise