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How would you qualify someone who notices a lot of things in their environment (e.g., small changes in people's appearance, object moved from one place to another...).

I would like to say

You're _____________.

Would you say a good observer, observant? That just does not sound right to me.

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    Spot on. 'observer' serves everything you want to say. You may also call the person sharp-eyed.
    – Maulik V
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 10:31
  • Sounds like you're describing someone with OCD
    – Varun Nair
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 10:33
  • @VarunKN not really, more like someone who would notice that you have new glasses, or a new watch (etc.) and let you know that they noticed it. I'd like to reply ironically, you're a good ...
    – Antoine
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 10:35
  • @VarunKN a big no to OCD! :)
    – Maulik V
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 10:36
  • @MaulikV It means both able to perceive and familiar with.
    – user20792
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 10:37

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There's nothing wrong with it. You could use a few adjectives to "observer" to make it sound better. Maybe words like 'Keen' or 'careful' or 'sharp' or 'intense'.

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Yes, a good observer is natural and common in your context.

In addition, as a native speaker, I would not use sharp-eyed in this context. Although dictionaries say it means observant, it doesn't fit well here.

In addition, such a person is (highly) attuned to his or her environment.

attuned -
1 able to perceive; sensitive (to) ⇒ ■ He seemed unusually attuned to people's feelings., ⇒ ■ I have become attuned to Carlisle's industrial past.

2 accustomed (to) ⇒ ■ Their ears were still attuned to the sounds of the London suburb. -

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  • I think attuned is more for getting 'familiar with' rather than noticing/observing. The person is a keen observer who notices even small changes according to OP
    – Maulik V
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 10:36
  • thanks, but maybe I wasn't clear enough in my description. I'm not talking about some kind of mentalist or someone with high emotional intelligence. I'm talking about people who notice physical changes in their environment (other people, objects)...
    – Antoine
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 10:37
  • Antoine and @MaulikV A person highly attuned to his environment will notice changes in his environment.
    – user20792
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 18:04

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