Adjectives

1. גדול

   gadol

   Big

   Usage

   For stating a size — clothes or rooms

2. קטן

   katan

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big — for asking for a smaller size

3. כבד

   kaved

   Heavy

   Usage

   For the weight of luggage, and as a lead-in to asking for help

4. קל

   kal

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from light meaning bright

5. יקר

   yakar

   Expensive

   Usage

   High in price — the opening move when haggling

6. זול

   zol

   Cheap

   Usage

   The opposite of expensive — for asking for something cheaper

7. חם

   kham

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — kept separate from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   חם (kham) covers both hot objects and hot weather; for weather Hebrew says חם בחוץ ("it is hot outside").

8. קר

   kar

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — kept separate from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   קר (kar) covers both; for weather say קר בחוץ ("it is cold outside").

9. חדש

   khadash

   New

   Usage

   Brand new — also used when asking for a replacement

10. ישן

    yashan

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in worn — never the word to use about a person

    Grammar Note

    ישן (yashan) is for objects only; for people use מבוגר (mevugar) — ישן about a person is rude.

11. צעיר

    tsair

    Young

    Usage

    About a person's age — a small-talk staple

12. מבוגר

    mevugar

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, about people — a different word from old things

13. נקי

    naki

    Clean

    Usage

    For praising cleanliness

14. מלוכלך

    melukhlakh

    Dirty

    Usage

    Unclean — the reason you give when asking for a change of room or dishes

15. טוב

    tov

    Good

    Usage

    A positive verdict, also usable to signal agreement

16. רע

    ra

    Bad

    Usage

    A negative verdict — also used of health and weather

17. קרוב

    karov

    Near

    Usage

    Close by — for checking whether you can walk

18. רחוק

    rakhok

    Far

    Usage

    Far away — your cue to look for transport

19. מוקדם

    mukdam

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — for first departures and opening hours

    Grammar Note

    מוקדם (mukdam) is early in time; fast in speed is מהר (maher).

20. מאוחר

    meukhar

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — for last departures and closing hours

    Grammar Note

    מאוחר (me'ukhar) is late in time; slow in speed is לאט (le'at).

21. הרבה

    harbe

    Many

    Usage

    A large amount or number — also used to describe crowds

22. מעט

    meat

    Few

    Usage

    A small amount or number — for asking for less of something

23. חם בחוץ

    kham bakhuts

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Hot weather — learn it separately from hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Literally "it is hot outside" — the natural way to talk about the weather.

24. קר בחוץ

    kar bakhuts

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Cold weather — learn it separately from cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Literally "it is cold outside". For a cold object, קר stands alone.

25. חמוד

    khamud

    Cute

    Usage

    Used broadly for people, objects, and animals

26. מגניב

    magniv

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for praising the look of a person or thing

27. טעים

    ta'im

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment at a meal

28. מדהים!

    madhim!

    Amazing

    Usage

    Used to express surprise or admiration

29. כיף

    keif

    Fun

    Usage

    For reacting to an experience itself; colloquial

30. עוד

    od

    More / another

    Usage

    Asks for a refill or an extra; "od ekhad" (one more) is the handiest form. Alone it can also mean "still/yet", so show it together with the thing you want

31. חצי

    khatsi

    Half

    Usage

    Ask for half a portion; "khatsi mana" is a half serving

32. הכל

    hakol

    All / everything

    Usage

    Take or pay for the lot; at the till, "hakol beyakhad" means all together

33. מספיק

    maspik

    Enough / that's enough

    Usage

    Stops someone serving you more, or declines further offers; it lands firmly when used as a refusal

34. טרי

    tari

    Fresh

    Usage

    Check freshness at a market or eatery: "ze tari?" (is this fresh?)

    Grammar Note

    Masculine singular; feminine "triya", plurals "triim / triot"

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