Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| apariencia | /apaˈɾjenθja/ /apaˈɾjensja/ |
feminine |
| hechura | /eˈt͡ʃuɾa/ | feminine |
| estampa | /esˈtampa/ | feminine |
| talle | /ˈtaʝe/ | masculine |
The terms used for appearance in Spanish vary depending on whether you are referring to a person's general look, their physical build or the way an object was constructed.
Which one should you use?
apariencia is the most common and neutral way to refer to the outward look or impression of a person or thing. hechura refers more specifically to the way something is made or its physical construction rather than its visual aesthetic. estampa is used to describe a person's imposing presence, stature or a certain dignified look.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the word facha is used colloquially to describe someone's appearance.
How does it change in a sentence?
apariencia is a feminine noun, so it must be used with feminine articles and adjectives, such as la apariencia or una apariencia engañosa.
How do you pronounce it?
/apaˈɾjenθja/
Did you know?
- Hechura and factura are doublet words, meaning they both derive from the Latin factūra. While factura now means an invoice in modern Spanish, hechura preserved the original meaning of how something is made.
- In some contexts, estampa can also refer to a small religious image or a holy card. Because of this, the word evokes a sense of being 'picture-perfect' or idealized.
- The word estampa is derived from the verb estampar, which means 'to stamp' or 'to print', suggesting a person's presence is like an indelible mark.
Examples in context
- Yo encuentro su apariencia atractiva.I find her appearance attractive.This sentence shows how to express finding an appearance attractive using apariencia.Tatoeba #1263582 by marcelostockle, translation #311809 by CM
- Tiene mucho orgullo en su apariencia.He has too much pride in his appearance.This sentence describes having pride in one's appearance using apariencia.Tatoeba #4318027 by pchamorro, translation #298870 by Dejo
- No juzgues a la gente por su apariencia.Don't judge people by their appearance.This sentence provides a common warning about judging others by their appearance using apariencia.Tatoeba #1068584 by hayastan, translation #270158 by darinmex
- La apariencia física juega un papel importante en los negociosPhysical appearance plays an important role in business.
- El aspecto exterior no siempre refleja la verdadera personalidadExternal appearance doesn't always reflect true personality.
- Me gusta su aspecto físico, tiene un estilo únicoI like his/her physical appearance, they have a unique style.
- ¡Qué buena pinta tienes hoy! Te ves estupendo/aYou look great today! You look fantastic.
- Tienes una figura envidiableYou have an enviable figure.
- ¡Qué buena facha tenés hoy! Estás muy eleganteYou look great today! You are very elegant.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing a job candidate.
- Elena¿Qué te parece el candidato?What do you think of the candidate?
- AlejandroSu apariencia es muy elegante.His appearance is very elegant.
- ElenaEs cierto, se ve muy serio.It's true, he looks very serious.
- AlejandroEso ayudará en la entrevista.That will help in the interview.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “appearance” translations and entries apariencia, hechura, estampa, talle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apariencia, estampa, hechura, talle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
