TOP 246: 7 Compound Adjectives Describing Character

Hey there! This is TOP episode 246. 7 Compound Adjectives Describing Character

Are you tired of lacking confidence when speaking English? Does it block you from achieving your true goals? This podcast is the place for you. This is Teacher Ola Podcast. My name’s Ola Mierniczak, I’m a teacher empowering English learners to become confident speakers. The key to fluency is in your pocket. Join my TOPeople newsletter for weekly motivation and free materials. Enjoy your journey to fluency!

Hey there! Thank you for choosing this episode! You’re about to learn or refresh or activate 7 compound adjectives that will help you describe different personality traits. Compound adjectives are adjectives that are made up of two or more words combined to create a single term. These words are often connected by hyphens, although in some cases they may be written as a single word or as separate words. Compound adjectives provide a more specific description of a noun. Compound adjectives I’m sure you know are:

full-time

high school

brand-new

red-hot

well-known

But today it’s gonna be limited to adjectives describing character. But before we dive into that topic, let me share the news!

Last week we closed enrollment for SIOL course, welcome new members! Now we’re working on Week 1 of the course and waiting for the first Speaking Club. Many people asked if the access to video-training is still possible. Sadly, it’s not, I removed those lessons but I have something new for you.

I have prepared a lesson on head translation. I know you struggle with that, you don’t want to think in Polish but you would like to speak English fast, without those head translations. Such a lesson is included in my SIOL course but since so many of you ask about it I decided to publish that one lesson from the course and give you the access. To watch that lesson and you are not a member of TOPeople you have to go to teacherola.com/lekcja and get your access there. Happy learning!

Now, let’s get down to business and talk about compound adjectives describing character.

One. Empty-headed – Someone who is empty-headed isn’t very smart or thoughtful. They often lack common sense or the ability to think deeply about things. This term suggests a person who doesn’t use their mind effectively. For example:

How could you leave a broken bottle in the children’s play area? Are you empty-headed?

She’s not empty-headed; she just needs more time to understand the topic.

Two. Big-headed – A big-headed person thinks they are very important or clever. They often show too much pride in themselves and can come across as arrogant or boastful. This attitude can make it difficult for others to be around them. Example sentences:

After winning the competition, he became a bit big-headed.

Don’t be so big-headed; everyone contributed to the project’s success.

Three. Broad-minded – A broad-minded person is open to new ideas and different opinions. They are willing to consider other perspectives and are not narrow in their thinking. This quality is especially important in diverse and multicultural settings. Listen to those example sentences:

It’s important to be broad-minded when meeting people from different cultures.

She’s broad-minded and always listens to other points of view.

Four. Thin-skinned – A thin-skinned person gets upset or offended easily. They have a hard time handling criticism or jokes about themselves. This sensitivity can lead to frequent hurt feelings and emotional reactions. Let’s hear two examples:

Don’t be so thin-skinned about criticism; it’s meant to help you improve.

He’s a bit thin-skinned and can’t handle jokes very well.

Five. Tight-fisted – Someone who is tight-fisted doesn’t like to spend money. They are very frugal and often unwilling to spend even when necessary. This can sometimes make them appear stingy to others.

He’s so tight-fisted; he never buys anything unless it’s on sale.

Don’t be tight-fisted; it’s okay to treat yourself sometimes.

Six. Level-headed – A level-headed person is calm and makes good decisions, even in stressful situations. They are rational and sensible, not easily swayed by emotions. This trait is particularly valuable in leadership and crisis management. For instance:

She’s very level-headed and always stays calm during exams.

We need a level-headed leader who can handle crises effectively.

Seven. Short-tempered – A short-tempered person gets angry very quickly. They have a low tolerance for frustration and can react with anger over small things. This can lead to conflicts and strained relationships with others. For example:

Be careful around him; he’s quite short-tempered and might get angry easily.

She’s working on being less short-tempered and more patient with others.

Here you have it. 7 Compound adjectives that will help you to describe character. But we’re not done yet. Time to practice. Listen to these example sentences and repeat out loud after me: