Personality types

Spotted four letters like INFP or ESTJ on someone’s profile and wondered what they mean? It’s their personality type, and you can add yours to your profile too.

Each type is made up of four letters. They come from four pairs of preferences, and choosing one letter from each pair gives you one of 16 types.

The four letters

E or I: Extraversion or Introversion. Where you get your energy. E types recharge around other people; I types recharge with time to themselves.

S or N: Sensing or Intuition. How you take in information. S types trust facts and what’s in front of them; N types look for patterns and possibilities.

T or F: Thinking or Feeling. How you make decisions. T types go by logic and consistency; F types go by their values and how people will be affected.

J or P: Judging or Perceiving. How you approach the world. J types like plans and things settled; P types like to keep their options open.

For example, an INFP prefers Introversion, Intuition, Feeling and Perceiving.

The 16 types at a glance

ENFJ: warm and encouraging, and great at bringing people together

ENFP: enthusiastic and imaginative, usually with a few ideas on the go

ENTJ: decisive and ambitious, a natural at organising people and plans

ENTP: quick-witted and curious, and loves a good debate

ESFJ: caring and sociable, and makes sure everyone feels included

ESFP: spontaneous and fun-loving, happiest in the moment

ESTJ: practical and organised, a steady pair of hands

ESTP: energetic and bold, learns by doing

INFJ: thoughtful and insightful, with strong values

INFP: idealistic and creative, guided by what matters to them

INTJ: strategic and independent, always a few steps ahead

INTP: analytical and curious, loves working out how things work

ISFJ: loyal, kind and quietly dependable

ISFP: gentle and artistic, lives by their own values

ISTJ: reliable, thorough and true to their word

ISTP: calm and hands-on, great at fixing things

Don’t know yours?

That’s fine. Choose “Not known” for now. You can take a personality questionnaire online and change your Personality type on your profile at any time.

Four letters, not the whole story

A personality type is a conversation starter, not a compatibility score. People are much more than four letters, and opposites often get on brilliantly. Not sure where to start? Try asking a match whether their type really fits them.