Adjectives

1. groß

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Uninflected as a predicate; before a noun it takes an ending, e.g. "ein großes Zimmer"

2. klein

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; use it to ask for another size

   Grammar Note

   Comparative "kleiner", superlative "am kleinsten"

3. schwer

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Means both "heavy" and "difficult"

4. leicht

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Means "light in weight" and "easy"; light in colour is "hell"

5. teuer

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   The stem drops an "e" when inflected: "ein teures Hotel"

6. billig

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Slightly negative in tone; "günstig" is the neutral word for good value

7. heiß

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; pleasantly warm is "warm"

8. kalt

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; for weather German says "Es ist kalt"

9. neu

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Comparative "neuer"; takes an ending before a noun

10. alt

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; for people the polite choice is "älter"

11. jung

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    The comparative takes an umlaut: "jünger"

12. älter

    Old (person)

    Usage

    The word used for people; keep it apart from "old thing"

    Grammar Note

    Literally "older", but the established polite euphemism for an elderly person

13. sauber

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    "Clean" only; beautiful is "schön"

14. schmutzig

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    "Dreckig" is the stronger, more colloquial word

15. gut

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Irregular: besser / am besten

16. schlecht

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Comparative "schlechter"; also used for feeling unwell

17. nah

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    Comparative "näher"; the phrase "in der Nähe" (nearby) is very common

18. weit

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    "Ist es weit?" is the traveller's standard question

19. früh

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — this entry is about the clock, not speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "schnell"

20. spät

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "langsam"

21. viele

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    The plural form for countables; use "viel" for amounts

22. wenige

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    The plural form for countables; use "wenig" for amounts

23. Es ist heiß

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Hot weather; many languages use a different word than for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the dummy subject "es"; the adjective is still "heiß"

24. Es ist kalt

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Cold weather; many languages use a different word than for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the dummy subject "es"; the adjective is still "kalt"

25. süß

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    The same word also means "sweet"; context makes it "cute"

26. cool

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English that is fully naturalized in spoken German

27. lecker

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. toll

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. lustig

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Means "funny / enjoyable"; broadly applicable to a fun experience

30. mehr

    More

    Usage

    Show this to ask for more; "more please" is "Mehr, bitte"

31. nur ein bisschen

    Just a little

    Usage

    Show this to ask for only a small amount

32. die Hälfte

    Half

    Usage

    Show this to ask for half the amount or half the price

33. alles

    All

    Usage

    Show this to say you want all of it, or to confirm "all of it"

34. Das reicht, danke

    That's enough, thank you

    Usage

    Show this to politely stop someone from pouring or offering more

35. sofort

    Right now

    Usage

    Show this to say it is urgent

36. eine Person

    One person

    Usage

    Show this to give the number of people at a restaurant or counter

37. zwei Personen

    Two people

    Usage

    Show this to give the number of people at a restaurant or counter

38. drei Personen

    Three people

    Usage

    Show this to give the number of people at a restaurant or counter

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