Adjectives

1. grande

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Same form for both genders; shortened to "gran" before a noun

2. pequeño

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "pequeña", plurals "pequeños / pequeñas"

3. pesado

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "pesada"; it can also describe an annoying person

4. ligero

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "ligera"; light in weight — light in colour is "claro"

5. caro

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "cara"; "¡Qué caro!" is a recognised opening for haggling

6. barato

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "barata", plurals "baratos / baratas"

7. caliente

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch, same form for both genders; weather is "Hace calor"

8. frío

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; feminine "fría". Weather is "Hace frío"

9. nuevo

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "nueva"; after the noun it means brand-new, before it means "another"

10. viejo

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; feminine "vieja". Applied to a person it can be rude

11. joven

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; plural "jóvenes" takes an accent

12. mayor

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an elderly person; same form for both genders

13. limpio

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "limpia"; "clean" only — beautiful is "bonito" or "hermoso"

14. sucio

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "sucia", plurals "sucios / sucias"

15. bueno

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "buena"; shortened to "buen" before a masculine noun

16. malo

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mala"; shortened to "mal" before a masculine noun

17. cerca

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    An adverb used with "estar": "¿Está cerca?" The adjective is "cercano"

18. lejos

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; "¿Está lejos?" is the traveller's standard question

19. temprano

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "rápido"

20. tarde

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "lento"

21. mucho

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Agrees with the noun: mucha / muchos / muchas

22. poco

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Agrees with the noun: poca / pocos / pocas

23. Hace calor

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the impersonal verb "hacer"; a hot object is "caliente"

24. Hace frío

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the impersonal verb "hacer"; a cold object is simply "frío"

25. lindo

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "linda"; in Spain "mono / mona" is also common

26. genial

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; regionally "guay" (Spain) or "chévere" (Latin America) are also common

27. delicioso

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "deliciosa"

28. increíble

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders

29. divertido

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "divertida"

30. más

    More

    Usage

    One word for asking for more; "más agua" means "more water"

31. solo un poco

    Just a little

    Usage

    Show it when you want only a small amount

32. la mitad

    Half

    Usage

    Asks for half the portion or half the amount

33. todo

    All

    Usage

    Says you want all of it, or that this is everything

34. Es suficiente

    That is enough

    Usage

    Show it to stop someone pouring or serving more

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