English learners often get confused when they want to ask about the appearance of something. Two sentences that look very similar are “What does it look like?” and “How does it look?”. Because of this, many learners also say “How it looks like” or “How does it looks like?”.
The problem becomes clearer when learners compare English with their first language. In many languages, the same idea can be translated using a structure similar to “how it looks like.” However, English follows a different grammar pattern.
If you have ever wondered about what it looks like or how it looks like, you are not alone. This is a very common question among English learners, especially beginners What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
The good news is that the rule is quite simple once you understand what what and how are doing in the sentence.
The correct question for asking about the appearance of a person, place, thing, or object is usually “What does it look like?” You can also say “How does it look?” when asking for an opinion about its appearance.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
By the end of this guide, you will know why “What does it look like?” is correct, why “How does it look like?” is usually incorrect in standard English, and how to use these patterns naturally in everyday conversation.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
What Does “What It Looks Like” Mean?
“What it looks like” is a correct English expression. It is used to describe or ask about the appearance of something or someone.
The important thing to notice is that “what it looks like” is not normally a complete question by itself.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
For example:
- I want to know what it looks like.
- Can you tell me what it looks like?
- She showed me what the new house looks like.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
- I have no idea what the machine looks like.
Here, “what it looks like” is part of a larger sentence.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
When you want to ask a direct question, you normally use:
What does it look like?
This question means:
“What is its appearance?”
You can use it for almost anything that can be seen.
- What does your new car look like?
- What does your teacher look like?
- What does the hotel look like?
- What does the new phone look like?
- What does your dog look like?
- What does the building look like?
- What does the cake look like?
- What does the new website look like?
Notice the grammar:
What + does + subject + look + like?
The word does already carries the present-tense grammar. Therefore, the main verb stays in its basic form: look, not looks.
This is one of the most important rules to remember.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
We say:
What does it look like?
Not:
What does it looks like?
The word like is also important. Here, like is a preposition meaning “similar to” or asking about the qualities or appearance of something.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
For example:
What does the new restaurant look like?
You might answer:
It looks modern and bright.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Or:
It looks like a small European café.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
There is another useful form:
I don’t know what it looks like.
Here, what it looks like is an embedded question. It is not written as what does it look like because the sentence is no longer a direct question.
Compare these:
Direct question:
What does it look like?
Embedded question:
Do you know what it looks like?
This difference is very useful for learners because both forms are common in daily English.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
What Does “How It Looks Like” Mean?
The phrase “how it looks like” is a common learner mistake in standard English.
Native speakers normally do not use “how” and “like” together in this structure when asking about the appearance of something.
For example, this sentence is generally considered incorrect:
❌ How does it look like?
The natural sentence is:
✅ What does it look like?
Why?
Because what asks for information about the thing’s appearance, while how asks about the manner, condition, or quality of something.
There is an important difference between these two structures.
Use:
What does it look like?
when you want someone to describe its appearance.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Use:
How does it look?
when you want to ask for an opinion or evaluation of its appearance.
For example, imagine that your friend has bought a new jacket.
You can ask:
What does your new jacket look like?
Your friend may describe it:
It’s black, long, and made of leather.
But if your friend is already wearing the jacket, you might ask:
How does it look?
The answer could be:
It looks great!
So, when comparing what it looks like or how it looks like, remember that how does not normally need like after it.
Correct:
How does it look?
Incorrect in standard English:
❌ How does it look like?
Correct:
What does it look like?
This does not mean that the word how can never appear near looks like. It can occur in other grammatical structures.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
For example:
I don’t know how it looks.
This is possible, although what it looks like is often more natural when asking for a description of appearance.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
You may also hear:
See how it looks.
Here, how is being used to refer to the way something appears.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
The main problem is specifically the combination of how + looks like when learners are trying to form the standard question.
Difference Between “What It Looks Like” and “How It Looks Like”
The biggest difference is grammatical.
“What does it look like?” is the normal way to ask someone to describe the appearance of a person or thing.
“How does it look?” is a natural way to ask for an opinion about appearance.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
“How does it look like?” is not the standard English form.
| Expression | Correct? | Main use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| What does it look like? | ✅ Yes | Ask for a description | What does the new house look like? |
| What it looks like | ✅ Yes | Embedded question/description | I know what it looks like. |
| How does it look? | ✅ Yes | Ask for an opinion/evaluation | How does my new dress look? |
| How it looks | ✅ Yes | Refers to appearance or manner | I like how it looks. |
| How does it look like? | ❌ Usually incorrect | Not standard question structure | Avoid this form. |
| How it looks like | ❌ Usually incorrect | Incorrect combination in standard English | Use “what it looks like.” |
The easiest way to understand the difference is to think about the answer you expect.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
If you want a description, use what:
What does it look like?
Possible answer:
It has four rooms and a large garden.
If you want an opinion, use how:
How does it look?
Possible answer:
It looks beautiful.
This distinction is especially helpful in conversations.
Imagine you are talking to a friend about a new apartment.
You might say:
What does your new apartment look like?
Your friend could describe the apartment:
It’s quite small, but it has large windows and a nice balcony.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Later, after seeing a photograph, you could say:
It looks nice. How does it look in person?
The grammar of the question changes because the purpose changes.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Another important point is the position of the verb.
With what in a direct question:
What does it look like?
With how:
How does it look?
The helping verb does is followed by the base form look.
Never write:
❌ What does it looks like?
The correct form is:
✅ What does it look like?
Grammar Rules You Must Remember
1. Use “what” to ask for a description
When you want someone to describe the appearance of something, use:
What does + subject + look like?
Examples:
- What does your brother look like?
- What does the new office look like?
- What does the village look like?
- What does this animal look like?
The answer can include color, size, shape, age, clothing, or other visible details.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
What does your new car look like?
It is small and blue with black seats.
This is the most useful rule when dealing with what it looks like or how it looks like.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
2. Use “how” without “like” to ask for an opinion
When asking whether something looks good, bad, strange, beautiful, old, modern, or suitable, use:
How does + subject + look?
Examples:
- How does my new haircut look?
- How does the room look?
- How does this dress look on me?
- How does the website look now?
Possible answers include:
It looks great.
It looks much better.
It looks a little strange.
The key point is simple: do not add “like” after “how” in this question structure.
3. After “does,” use “look,” not “looks”
This is a basic English grammar rule.
The helping verb does takes the present-tense marking, so the main verb stays in its base form.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Correct:
What does it look like?
Incorrect:
❌ What does it looks like?
Correct:
How does she look?
Incorrect:
❌ How does she looks?
The same rule applies to many other verbs:
Does he work here?
Not:
❌ Does he works here?
4. Do not use “how” and “like” together in this question
For standard English, remember:
What does it look like? ✅
How does it look? ✅
How does it look like? ❌
This one small rule can prevent a very common mistake.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Why These Mistakes Happen
Learners often make these mistakes because they translate directly from their first language.
They may know that how means “in what way” and like can be used when talking about similarity. Combining the two can seem logical.
English, however, does not always follow the same structure as another language.
The phrase “What does it look like?” is a fixed and very common English pattern for asking about appearance.
Here are some common mistakes.
Mistake 1: “How does it look like?”
❌ How does your new house look like?
✅ What does your new house look like?
If you want a description of the house, use what.
Mistake 2: “What does it looks like?”
❌ What does the dog looks like?
✅ What does the dog look like?
Remember that does is already doing the grammatical work.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Mistake 3: “How it looks like?”
❌ I want to know how it looks like.
✅ I want to know what it looks like.
This is especially common in embedded questions.
Mistake 4: Confusing “what” with “how”
❌ What does the dress look?
If you want an opinion, say:
✅ How does the dress look?
If you want a description, say:
✅ What does the dress look like?
A quick correction trick is to ask yourself:
“Do I want a description or an opinion?”
Description → What does it look like?
Opinion → How does it look?
Easy Trick to Remember the Difference
Here is a simple memory trick that works well for beginners.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Think:
WHAT = DESCRIPTION
HOW = OPINION
If someone asks:
What does it look like?
They want you to describe it.
You might say:
It is big, white, and round.
If someone asks:
How does it look?
They probably want your opinion.
You might say:
It looks beautiful.
You can also remember it through a real-life situation.
Imagine your friend tells you:
“I bought a new car.”
You have never seen it.
Ask:
What does it look like?
Your friend may say:
It’s a small red car with four doors.
Now imagine your friend sends you a picture of the car.
You already know what the car looks like. You might say:
How does it look?
Your friend could answer:
It looks fantastic!
So, if you remember only one thing about what it looks like or how it looks like, remember this:
WHAT asks “Tell me about its appearance.”
HOW asks “What is your opinion about its appearance?”
And remember that “How does it look like?” is not the normal standard English question.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Daily Life Examples
1. Talking About a New House
A: My sister moved into a new house.
B: Really? What does it look like?
A: It is small, white, and has a beautiful garden.
Here, B wants a description.
2. Talking About a New Shirt
A: I bought a new shirt.
B: How does it look?
A: I think it looks great.
Here, B is asking for an opinion.
3. Asking About a Person
A: I met your new teacher yesterday.
B: What does he look like?
A: He is tall and has short black hair.
The question asks for physical description.
4. Asking About a Restaurant
A: Have you been to the new restaurant?
B: No. What does it look like?
A: It has a large glass entrance and outdoor tables.
Again, the speaker wants a description.
5. Checking Your Clothes
A: I am wearing this jacket to the party.
B: How does it look?
A: It looks really good on you.
This asks for an opinion.
6. Talking About a New Phone
A: Did you see the new phone?
B: No. What does it look like?
A: It has three cameras and a very thin design.
The question asks about physical appearance.
7. Looking at a New Room
A: I painted my bedroom yesterday.
B: How does it look now?
A: It looks much brighter.
The speaker wants an evaluation.
8. Asking About a Celebrity
A: What does the actor look like?
B: He is quite tall and has curly brown hair.
The answer gives physical details.
9. Talking About a New Website
A: We changed the company website.
B: How does it look?
A: It looks cleaner and easier to use.
The question asks for an opinion.
10. Asking About an Unknown Place
A: I have never visited that city. What does it look like?
B: It is very busy, with tall buildings and wide streets.
This is a natural everyday use of the description pattern.What It Looks Like or How It Looks Like.
Practice Section
Choose the Correct Option
Try to answer these questions before looking at the answers.
1. ______ your new apartment look like?
- A. How does
- B. What does
- C. How
2. ______ your new haircut look?
- A. What does
- B. How does
- C. What
3. I don’t know ______ the new office looks like.
- A. how
- B. what
- C. what does
4. ______ this painting look?
- A. How does
- B. What does
- C. How do
5. Can you tell me ______ your new teacher looks like?
- A. what
- B. what does
- C. how does
Answers
1. B — What does
What does your new apartment look like?
This asks for a description.
2. B — How does
How does your new haircut look?
This asks for an opinion.
3. B — what
I don’t know what the new office looks like.
This is an embedded question.
4. A — How does
How does this painting look?
You are asking for an opinion.
5. A — what
Can you tell me what your new teacher looks like?
This is an embedded question, so we do not use question-word order inside it.
FAQs
What is the difference between “what it looks like” and “how it looks like”?
“What it looks like” is the correct expression for referring to the appearance of something. “How it looks like” is generally not standard English. For example, say, “I know what it looks like,” not “I know how it looks like.”
Can we use “how” in questions about appearance?
Yes. You can say “How does it look?” This is correct and natural. It usually asks for an opinion or evaluation, such as whether something looks good, bad, strange, or attractive. Do not normally add like to this question.
Is “what does it look like?” formal or informal?
It is neutral and very common. You can use “What does it look like?” in everyday conversations, classrooms, emails, and many other situations. It is not limited to either formal or informal English.
Is “how does it look like?” ever correct?
In standard English, “How does it look like?” is normally treated as incorrect. If you want a description, use “What does it look like?” If you want an opinion, use “How does it look?”
Is “what does it looks like?” correct?
No. The correct form is “What does it look like?” After does, the main verb must be in its base form. Therefore, use look, not looks.
Which is correct: “what it looks like” or “how it looks”?
Both can be correct, but they have different structures and uses. “What it looks like” refers to a description of appearance, while “how it looks” can describe the way something appears or express an opinion about its appearance.
Conclusion
The difference between these expressions becomes easy once you remember the basic grammar.
When you want someone to describe the appearance of a person, object, place, or thing, use:
What does it look like?
When you want to ask for an opinion about appearance, use:
How does it look?
Avoid the common learner mistake:
❌ How does it look like?
Also remember that after does, you use the base verb:
What does it look like?
Not:
❌ What does it looks like?
The phrase “what it looks like” is also very useful inside longer sentences:
I know what it looks like.
Can you tell me what it looks like?
A little practice will make these patterns feel natural. Try using them when talking about clothes, people, houses, phones, food, websites, and places. Once you connect what with description and how with opinion, this common English problem becomes much easier.
Hi, I’m Isabella Foster, an English language writer passionate about making grammar, vocabulary, and communication skills easy to understand. At EnglishVistor, I create clear, practical, and engaging learning resources to help learners improve their English with confidence.
