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Describe a person without guessing their age in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Practise 24 French lines for identifying someone by clothing, location, role or a name badge. Use four everyday scenes when the person’s age is unknown.

In short

Use a visible detail, a location or a stated role: la personne avec le gilet bleu, près de la fenêtre, la personne à l’accueil. Add the name when you know it. These concrete details help you identify the person in each conversation below.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Three volunteers with blank badges welcome visitors, arrange papers and offer a chair at an event.
At an event, combine clothing, location and the person’s current activity to identify whom to approach. Illustration: Atelier

The four scenes give the details needed for a practical introduction or question. Each exchange identifies a person through information already stated: clothing, glasses, a meeting landmark or an event role. Choose the cue that helps the other person find the same individual.

1

Find the welcome volunteer

You need the person welcoming visitors, and you know the blue waistcoat cue.

YouBonjour, je cherche la personne à l’accueil.Hello, I’m looking for the person at the welcome desk.
La personne qui vous renseigneC’est Nora, près de la porte.That’s Nora, near the door.
YouLa personne avec le gilet bleu ?The person with the blue waistcoat?
La personne qui vous renseigneOui, c’est elle.Yes, that’s her.
YouMerci, je vais lui poser ma question.Thank you, I’ll go and ask her my question.
La personne qui vous renseigneAvec plaisir.My pleasure.
2

Identify a colleague by the window

Use the supplied glasses and location rather than adding an unknown age.

La personne qui vous renseigneTu connais Malik ?Do you know Malik?
YouPas encore. Où est-il ?Not yet. Where is he?
La personne qui vous renseigneIl est près de la fenêtre, avec des lunettes rondes.He is near the window, with round glasses.
YouLa personne avec la chemise verte ?The person in the green shirt?
La personne qui vous renseigneOui, c’est bien Malik.Yes, that is Malik.
YouD’accord, je vais me présenter.All right, I’ll introduce myself.
3

Meet a friend’s contact at the station

The written meeting message names a red bag and the large clock.

YouJe cherche Ana. Elle est déjà là ?I’m looking for Ana. Is she already here?
La personne qui vous renseigneOui, elle attend près de la grande horloge.Yes, she is waiting near the large clock.
YouElle a un sac rouge ?Does she have a red bag?
La personne qui vous renseigneOui, et elle porte une écharpe blanche.Yes, and she is wearing a white scarf.
YouJe la vois. Merci pour les détails.I can see her. Thank you for the details.
La personne qui vous renseigneTu peux aller lui dire bonjour.You can go and say hello to her.
4

Ask for the workshop leader by role and badge

The instructor’s first name is supplied on a badge.

YouQui anime l’atelier de dessin ?Who is leading the drawing workshop?
La personne qui vous renseigneC’est Inès, au bout de la table.It’s Inès, at the end of the table.
YouSon prénom est sur son badge ?Is her first name on her badge?
La personne qui vous renseigneOui, le badge indique Inès.Yes, the badge says Inès.
YouTrès bien. Je voudrais lui demander du papier.Very good. I’d like to ask her for some paper.
La personne qui vous renseigneElle va te donner une feuille.She’ll give you a sheet.

Avec links the person to a visible cue

La personne avec le gilet bleu means the person with the blue waistcoat. It can work before you know the person’s name. Once Nora is identified, use her name to make a follow-up clearer. A repeated name can be more useful than elle when several people in the conversation could be meant.

A location can distinguish similar clothes

Près de la fenêtre and au bout de la table locate the person within the scene. If two people wear green, combine the colour with a position. On a photograph, specify à gauche sur la photo; in a room, use a shared landmark such as the door or clock.

Je cherche la personne près de la porte, avec le badge Inès.

I’m looking for the person near the door, with the Inès badge.

Question 1No account needed
Which phrase uses a visible clothing cue?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

La personne avec le gilet bleu. The blue waistcoat is a stated visible detail, unlike an inferred age or personality.

Question 2No account needed
Which cue identifies Ana’s meeting position?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The large clock. Ana waits près de la grande horloge in the station scene.

Question 3No account needed
What confirms Inès’s name in the workshop scene?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Her name badge. The exchange explicitly says the badge reads Inès.

A precise identifying phrase gives the listener something they can check in the scene. Keep it to the detail you know. If that detail does not distinguish the person, ask a further practical question about their position or role.

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