how /what does he look like? (appearance) (2025)

"What does he look like?" would be the question.

"How does he look like?" is incorrect; you can say "how does he look?," but that means "does he look well or ill?"

aldegunde said:

See Also

Peinarse - me peino el pelo

Hello:
I'm a bit confused and I am not sure whether the difference between what does he look like? and how does he look like? when asking about someone's physical appearance has something to do with British and American English or not. I would appreciate an answer from both a British and an American English speaker. Which one would you use if the answer is, for example: "He is tall and slim and has got short brown hair"?
Thanks in advance.

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Hola:
Mira bien que, en «How does he look like?», el «how» (cómo, de qué modo) y el «like» (como, del modo que) forman una redundancia.

Chris K, may it be said too, “like what does he look?”?

Saludos.

Milton Sand said:

Chris K, may it be said too, “like what does he look?”?

Saludos.

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In my opinion there are two possible ways to form correct sentences here.

1. What does he look like? (the general, normal question asking for a description)
and
2. He looks like what? (a question expressing surprise/horror, etc.)

In BrE it seems to be the same as in AE. "What does he look like?" would be the only correct question for "he's tall and slim..."
"How does he look?" (no "like") would be for if he looks ill or well, AND for if he's dressed nicely etc, as in "How do I look?" - "You look wonderful tonight".

Basically, for permanent physical appearance (height, eye-colour etc) we use "What does he look like?", and for temporary appearance (health, clothes, hairstyle etc) we use "How does he look?

kayokid said:

In my opinion there are two possible ways to form correct sentences here.

1. What does he look like? (the general, normal question asking for a description)
and
2. He looks like what? (a question expressing surprise/horror, etc.)

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What does he look like? ¿ Qué apariencia/aspecto físico tiene?
He looks like what? ¿él tiene apariencia/aspecto físico de qué?

juan2937 said:

What does he look like? ¿ Qué apariencia/aspecto físico tiene?
He looks like what? ¿él tiene apariencia/aspecto físico de qué?

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As you suggest, the question He looks like what? is grammatically possible. It is however an unusual way of phrasing the question and would only occur in very specific circumstances as an emphatic (and possibly rhetorical) question.

"I have a new boyfriend."
"What does he look like?"
"He is tall, dark and handsome."
"Lucky you!"

"I have a new boyfriend."
"He looks like what?" [This is possible but sounds rude or loaded with disdain. It might be said by an enemy.]
"..."

"I have a new boyfriend."
"What does he look like?"
"He looks like a chimpanzee."
"He looks like WHAT?"

"I have a new boyfriend."
"What does he look like?"
"He looks like a chimpanzee."
"What does he look like?" [I suppose it is possible to make this emphatic, e.g. "WHAT does he look like?". It depends on the tone of voice. Otherwise it simply sounds like a repetition of the exact same question.]
"..."

I would like to ask for confirmation of the following:

How does he look? ---> ¿Cómo se ve?

What does he look like? --->¿Qué aspecto tiene?

I found those versions on Google Translate. http://translate.google.com/#en/es/How does he look?What does he look like?

They look correct to me - can someone confirm?

Thanks.

Hi, Biffo,
Thank you for your clarifiying examples. It's makes a lot of sense. «He looks like what?» just asks for confirmation.

Biffo said:

How does he look? ---> ¿Cómo se ve? / ¿Cómo luce?

What does he look like? --->¿Qué aspecto tiene? / ¿Cómo luce?

Thanks.

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As for your related inquiry, I think both sentences in Spanish are interchangable, as both of them can be translated by using «lucir (como)». However, I agree that the nuances you pose are absolutely likely.

I don't really know if this work the same in English:

How does he look? = ¿Cómo se ve? / ¿Cómo luce? <—When you know him from before but haven't seen him for a while and he must have changed.

What does he look like? = ¿Qué aspecto tiene? / ¿Cómo luce? <—When you haven't met him so you don't know him.

Regards,