How to say it · Describing people

Describing someone you like

Someone asks what your new friend or colleague is like. "Nice" says almost nothing, so here are the words people really use for great personalities.

6 ways to say it

On a park bench, Jo tells Mia about a friend, whose smiling face appears in a heart-shaped bubble.

How warmLightHeartfelt

lovelybest default a good laughfun to be with easy to talk togood listener down-to-earthno ego genuinenever fake a heart of golddeeply kind

Way 1 · best default

lovely

Kind, warm and pleasant to be around. The everyday British word for a nice person.

How warmMiddle

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

Have you met Mia's mum? She's lovely.

The new neighbours seem lovely. They brought us biscuits.

In a conversation

A: What's your new manager like?
B: She's lovely, actually. Really calm and kind.

Common mistake

Not: My new colleague is ~~very cute.~~

Say: My new colleague is lovely.

"Cute" about an adult's personality can sound childish or flirty. "Lovely" is warm and safe.

Practice saying this

Next: a good laugh

Way 2 · fun to be with

a good laugh

Fun to spend time with. You always have a good time together.

How warmVery light

ToneCasual

Use itWith friends

Examples

Come out with us, Sam's a good laugh.

My new flatmate's a good laugh. We stayed up talking till two.

Common mistake

Not: He's a good ~~laughing person.~~

Say: He's a good laugh.

The fixed phrase is "a good laugh", with "laugh" as a noun. Nothing else is needed.

Practice saying this

Next: easy to talk to

Way 3 · good listener

easy to talk to

You feel relaxed with them. You can share problems or chat without any awkwardness.

How warmLight

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

My doctor's really easy to talk to, so I don't feel embarrassed.

I liked him straight away. He's so easy to talk to.

In a conversation

A: Were you nervous meeting her parents?
B: A bit, but her dad's really easy to talk to.

Practice saying this

Next: down-to-earth

Way 4 · no ego

down-to-earth

Normal and practical, never showing off, even if they're rich, famous or important.

How warmMiddle

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

For a famous actor, he's surprisingly down-to-earth.

Our boss is very down-to-earth. She eats lunch with everyone.

Common mistake

Not: She's very ~~down to the earth.~~

Say: She's very down-to-earth.

No "the". It's a fixed phrase: "she's very down-to-earth", "a down-to-earth guy".

Practice saying this

Next: genuine

Way 5 · never fake

genuine

Honest and real. What they say is what they mean, and they're never fake to please you.

How warmHeartfelt

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

I trust Jo. She's one of the most genuine people I know.

He seems really genuine, not like the last guy you dated.

Practice saying this

Next: a heart of gold

Way 6 · deeply kind

a heart of gold

Very kind and generous, always helping others. The warmest praise on this page.

How warmVery heartfelt

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

My gran has a heart of gold. She knits hats for the whole street.

He looks tough, but he's got a heart of gold.

In a conversation

A: Did your neighbour really drive you to the hospital at 3am?
B: Yeah. He's got a heart of gold.

Practice saying this

Test yourself: which would you say?

Pick the right one

Which would you say?

Read the moment, then choose the way that fits it best.

Now say it out loud

Pick one and practise it in a real conversation. Save the ones you want to remember.

lovely a good laugh easy to talk to down-to-earth

Which would you say?

Now say it out loud

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