Provided are systems and techniques that provide an output phrase describing an image. An example method includes creating, with a convolutional neural network, feature maps describing image features in locations in the image. The method also includes providing a skeletal phrase for the image by processing the feature maps with a first long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network trained based on a first set of ground truth phrases which exclude attribute words. Then, attribute words are provided by processing the skeletal phrase and the feature maps with a second LSTM neural network trained based on a second set of ground truth phrases including words for attributes. Then, the method combines the skeletal phrase and the attribute words to form the output phrase.