Adjectives

1. groot

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Before a noun it takes an "-e": "een grote kamer"

2. klein

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Before a noun it becomes "kleine"

3. zwaar

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Before a noun it becomes "zware"

4. licht

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Spelled the same whether it means "not heavy" or "not dark"; context decides

5. duur

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Before a noun it becomes "dure"; "Te duur!" opens a negotiation

6. goedkoop

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   A compound of "goed" (good) and "koop" (purchase)

7. heet

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; pleasantly warm is "warm"

8. koud

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; for weather Dutch says "Het is koud"

9. nieuw

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Before a noun it becomes "nieuwe"

10. oud

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; for people the polite word is "bejaard"

11. jong

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it becomes "jonge"

12. bejaard

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The considerate word for an elderly person, gentler than "oud"

13. schoon

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    "Clean" only; beautiful is "mooi"

14. vuil

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    "Smerig" is the stronger word

15. goed

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it becomes "goede"

16. slecht

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it becomes "slechte"

17. dichtbij

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    "Is het dichtbij?" is the standard question; a compound of "dicht" and "bij"

18. ver

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    "Is het ver?" is the traveller's standard question

19. vroeg

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "snel"

20. laat

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "langzaam"

21. veel

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    "Veel" covers both count and amount

22. weinig

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    "Weinig" covers both count and amount

23. Het is warm

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the dummy subject "het" and the word "warm", not "heet"

24. Het is koud

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the dummy subject "het"; the adjective is still "koud"

25. schattig

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

26. gaaf

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    The borrowed word "cool" is also widely understood

27. lekker

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. geweldig

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. leuk

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

30. meer

    More

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for more of something; for a refill say "nog een"

    Grammar Note

    The comparative of "veel" (much); "less" is "minder"

31. een beetje

    A little

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for just a small amount, e.g. of chilli or sugar

    Grammar Note

    "Beetje" is a diminutive of "beet"; "just a tiny bit" is "maar een klein beetje"

32. de helft

    Half

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    A "de" noun; as an adjective it is "half" — "een halve dag" means half a day

33. alles

    Everything / All of it

    Usage

    Shows you want all of it, or that everything goes on one bill

    Grammar Note

    An indefinite pronoun for things; "everyone" is the separate word "iedereen"

34. genoeg

    Enough

    Usage

    Shows you have had enough — use it to stop a pour or a second helping

    Grammar Note

    Adverb and adjective; "that's enough" is "Dat is genoeg"

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