Have you been asked to describe a landscape or city in your English classes and you don’t know where to start? If the answer is yes, you have reached the perfect article. The description of places is something very common when you study any language, but, generally, it is not usually done well due to lack of resources.
In this OneHOWTO article, we tell you how to write a description of a place in English. We provide you with the best advice and a good list of expressions and words that will help you, not only to write a good description of a place in English but also to communicate better in a spoken and daily way. Take note!
How to describe a place in English
To describe a place in English, you must think about the same as if you were doing it in Spanish. You have to follow a guide, pay attention to the details, and obtain resources, both in terms of grammar and vocabulary, until you get a complete, rich, and faithful reality narrative. In order to structure your description, you can use this reference guide that will help you gather everything you need to tell in your description:
- What places?
- Where is it located?
- How is? (At this point it is essential to use comparative adjectives, colors…)
- What elements make up the place? Where are they?
- Description of more important details, which may be relevant in the narrative.
- Personal sensations that the place transmits to you.
When you answer all these questions, you will already know everything you have to add to the essay and you will be able to develop a structure. To do this, we give you some useful tips that will help you make a good description of a place in English.
From general to detail
When you start to describe a place, you should do it from an overview to the details. This is exactly what happens when you look at any site. For example, imagine a city square, you would first see the large buildings that surround the square and then focus on the small details, such as a bench or a fountain. You should do the same in writing: start talking about the landscape, the most remarkable, and then turn to the smallest details.
Also, if you talk about the most general, you will be able to use a simpler vocabulary and add complexity as you talk about the details, helping you with more specific, concrete, and concise words.
The details make the difference
Therefore, once you have the general part of the description clear, it is time to talk about the details. Although some of them seem unimportant to you, highlighting any detail will add richness and complexity to your presentation. At this point, you should use more specific adjectives and more varied resources, such as comparisons or metaphors.
Emotions, feelings, and memories
As we have pointed out when talking about the structure, including the emotions, feelings, or memories that that place evokes in you is always a point in your favor. Thanks to this, the receiver will connect much better with your text or your exhibition and you will make the description of the place in English much more interesting. Of course, it is important not to overdo it, since they cannot overshadow the central theme of the narrative: the description of the place.
If you need more general advice on writing in English, you can review this other article on How to write an English essay .
Words to describe a place in English
Before starting a writing description of a place in English, you must know the basic vocabulary that allows you to name what you see in that place. What are the best words to describe a place in English? Depending on whether you are going to describe a natural landscape or a city, you will need some nouns or others.
In the city
To describe a city in English, these are some words you can use:
- The city: the city
- Town center: center of the city.
- Main street: main street. Other synonyms: high street.
- Old city : historic center. Other synonyms: historic center, the old quarter.
- Financial district: financial district.
- Skyscraper : Skyscraper.
- Theme park: theme park. Other synonyms: the amusement park.
- Park: park.
- Town shopping center: shopping center.
- Street market: open-air market. Other synonyms: open-air market.
- Flea markets: markets.
- Museum: museum.
- Gallery: gallery.
- Temple: temple.
- Pagoda : pagoda.
- Monastery: monastery.
- Cathedral: cathedral.
- Church: church.
- Pedestrianized area: pedestrian area. Other synonyms: traffic-free zone.
- Promenade: promenade. Other synonyms: seafront.
- Port: port. Other synonyms: harbor.
- Lighthouse : lighthouse.
In nature
For the description of a natural landscape in English, you may need the following words:
- Mountain: mountain.
- Countryside: field.
- Forest: forest.
- River : river.
- Valley: valley.
- Plain : plateau.
- Beach : the beach.
- Sandy beach: sandy beach.
- Cliff : cliff.
- Island: island.
- National park: natural or national park, nature reserve.
- Lake: lake.
- Bay: bay.
- Waterfall: a cascade of water.
- Desert: desert.
- Sand dune: sand dune.
- Wildlife: wildlife, including fauna and flora.
- Hiking routes: hiking routes. Other synonyms: walking.
In addition to all these nouns, you will find prepositions of place very useful to describe a place in English. Take a look at this other article to learn what prepositions of place are like in English.
Adjectives to describe a place in English
Adjectives are words that describe people, places, or things. Therefore, it is very important to include them in our descriptive accounts to provide the receiver with maximum information. If you want to describe a city or a certain place, these adjectives may be useful:
- Beautiful: beautiful. Other synonyms: gorgeous, lovely.
- Amazing: amazing, amazing. Other synonyms: wonderful, fantastic.
- Calm: calm. Other synonyms: quiet, peaceful.
- Sunny : sunny.
- Slow-paced: slow, leisurely. Other synonyms: relaxed, peaceful.
- Interesting: interesting. Other synonyms: cool.
- Picturesque: Picturesque. Other synonyms: quaint, charming.
- Fascinating: Fascinating.
- Touristy: tourist. Other synonyms: crowded.
- Cosmopolitan: cosmopolitan. Other synonyms: multicultural.
- Exciting: exciting. Other synonyms: amazing, thrilling.
- Small: small. Other synonyms: little, short, petty.
- Big: big. Other synonyms: high, great.
- Huge: huge. Other synonyms: vast, large.
- Seedy: Seedy. Other synonyms: dangerous, dodgy.
- Polluted: polluted. Other synonyms: dirty, contaminated.
- Boring: boring. Other synonyms: uninteresting, dull.
- Popular: popular, famous. Other synonyms: famous, well-known.
- Traditional: traditional. Other synonyms: typical.
- Unique: unique, singular. Other synonyms: charming, quaint.
- Bustling: bustling. Other synonyms: hectic, lively, fast-paced.
- Expensive: expensive. Other synonyms: pricey, costly.
- Cheap: cheap. Other synonyms: naff, inexpensive.
- Captivating: captivating, fascinating. Other synonyms: stunning, fascinating.
- Charming: Charming. Other synonyms: unique, quaint.
- Lovely: precious. Other synonyms: nice, precious.
- Historic: historical. Other synonyms: ancient, old city.
- Noisy: noisy, boisterous. Other synonyms: busy, lively.
- Cold: cold. Other synonyms: frosty.
- Warm: hot. Other synonyms: hot up.
- Isolated: isolated. Other synonyms: remote, secluded.
- Crowded: crowded. Other synonyms: busy, congested.
- Unspoiled: immaculate, well preserved. Other synonyms: unaltered, untouched, virgin.
- Breathtaking: Breathtaking (literal: takes your breath away). Other synonyms: stunning, impressive.
It is possible that so much vocabulary overwhelms you. In this other article, you will learn how to organize my English vocabulary .
Expressions to describe a place in English
To write a description of a place in English, it will also be good for you to know certain expressions that allow you to define even better what you are talking about. In addition, expressions make the language more every day and allow us to communicate better with native speakers. We leave you some of the most outstanding:
Clean as a whistle
The literal translation would be: “clean as a whistle”, although in Spanish we would say ” clean as a paten ” or “clean as the jets of gold”. You can use this expression to say that the place was very clean, especially if it is a house or a flat.
Second to none
The literal translation would be “second of nothing”, something that in Spanish does not make much sense. This expression refers to something being second to none, that is, the best of the best. This resource will help you describe both magnificent places and extraordinary events.
For objects or places that are not insurmountable, you will need to make comparisons. For this reason, we recommend this other article on What is the difference between as and like.
middle of nowhere
In the description of a landscape in English or a remote place, this expression can be a good resource. Its literal translation is the same as that used in Spanish ” in the middle of nowhere “.
Hive of activity
If you want to describe a big city, this expression is what you need. Its literal translation is “hive of activity”, which would be a ” hive of activity “. Describe London, New York, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, or Tokyo at rush hour and this expression will come in handy.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to write a description of a place in English, we recommend you visit our Training category.
