Adjectives

1. גרויס

   groys

   Big

   Usage

   The basic word for size, used for clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   As a predicate it does not change: "דער טיש איז גרויס". Before a noun it takes an ending: "אַ גרויסער טיש"

2. קליין

   kleyn

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; useful when asking for a smaller size

   Grammar Note

   Unchanged as a predicate; before a noun it takes an ending: "אַ קליינער טיש"

3. שווער

   shver

   Heavy

   Usage

   Used for the weight of luggage, and as a lead-in to asking for help. The same word also means "difficult"

   Grammar Note

   The same spelling is also a masculine noun meaning "father-in-law"; it is a different word from the adjective

4. לײַכט

   laykht

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight. The same word also means "easy"

   Grammar Note

   "ס׳איז לײַכט" can also mean "it is easy"; for weight, make the object the explicit subject

5. טײַער

   tayer

   Expensive

   Usage

   High in price; also the opening move when haggling

   Grammar Note

   Used as a predicate: "דאָס איז טײַער". The same word also means "dear" in the sense of beloved

6. ביליק

   bilik

   Cheap

   Usage

   The opposite of expensive; for asking for something cheaper

   Grammar Note

   Means low in price. Unchanged as a predicate

7. הייס

   heys

   Hot

   Usage

   For things that are hot to the touch, such as drinks or food. Hot weather has its own card

   Grammar Note

   The same spelling is also a verb form meaning "am called" (איך הייס, "my name is")

8. קאַלט

   kalt

   Cold

   Usage

   For things that are cold to the touch. Cold weather has its own card

   Grammar Note

   Unchanged as a predicate; before a noun it takes endings such as "קאַלטער" and "קאַלטע"

9. נײַ

   nay

   New

   Usage

   Brand new; also used when asking for a replacement

   Grammar Note

   Before a noun it takes an ending: "אַ נײַער טיש"

10. אַלט

    alt

    Old

    Usage

    Used for things and for people alike

    Grammar Note

    Unlike Hebrew, Yiddish does not split things and people into two words. Age is given as "צוואַנציק יאָר אַלט" (twenty years old)

11. יונג

    yung

    Young

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling is also a masculine noun meaning "a youth"

12. ריין

    reyn

    Clean

    Usage

    For saying that a room or a dish is clean

    Grammar Note

    The "יי" is read "ey". Before a noun it becomes "ריינער" or "ריינע"

13. שמוציק

    shmutsik

    Dirty

    Usage

    The reason you give when asking for a change of room or dishes

    Grammar Note

    An adjective built on "שמוץ" (dirt) with the ending "־יק"

14. גוט

    gut

    Good

    Usage

    A positive verdict; it can also signal agreement

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it takes an ending: "אַ גוטער טאָג". As an interjection "גוט" also means "OK"

15. שלעכט

    shlekht

    Bad

    Usage

    A negative verdict

    Grammar Note

    Unchanged as a predicate

16. נאָענט

    noent

    Near

    Usage

    Used for nearby places: "די סטאַציע איז נאָענט" (the station is near)

    Grammar Note

    Unchanged as a predicate

17. ווײַט

    vayt

    Far

    Usage

    Used for distant places, and in distance questions such as "ווי ווײַט איז ניו־יאָרק?"

    Grammar Note

    "ווי ווײַט" means "how far". Unchanged as a predicate

18. פֿרי

    fri

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time; "צו פֿרי" means "too early"

    Grammar Note

    Works as both adjective and adverb. "צו" before it means "too"

19. שפּעט

    shpet

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time: "ס׳איז שפּעט" (it is late)

    Grammar Note

    The comparative "שפּעטער" also appears in "ביז שפּעטער" (see you later)

20. פֿיל

    fil

    Many / much

    Usage

    Used for a large number or amount

    Grammar Note

    Used with countable and uncountable nouns alike; it does not change

21. ווייניק

    veynik

    Few / little

    Usage

    Used for a small number or amount

    Grammar Note

    The comparative is "ווייניקער" (fewer, less)

22. ס׳איז הייס

    S'iz heys

    It is hot (weather)

    Usage

    About hot weather, not about hot things

    Grammar Note

    "ס׳איז" is the contraction of "עס איז"; weather sentences need this placeholder subject. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

23. ס׳איז קאַלט

    S'iz kalt

    It is cold (weather)

    Usage

    About cold weather, not about cold things

    Grammar Note

    "ס׳איז" is the contraction of "עס איז"

24. חנעוודיק

    kheynevdik

    Cute

    Usage

    For praising a child or a small animal

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it takes an ending such as "חנעוודיקער" or "חנעוודיקע"

25. געשמאַק

    geshmak

    Delicious

    Usage

    The basic word for praising food

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling is also a masculine noun meaning "taste"

26. וווּנדערלעך!

    vunderlekh!

    Wonderful!

    Usage

    An exclamation of delight for views, food or experiences

    Grammar Note

    An adjective built on "וווּנדער" (wonder) with the ending "־לעך"

27. הנאָה

    hanoe

    Fun

    Usage

    The noun for enjoyment, as in "איך האָב הנאה געהאַט" (I enjoyed myself)

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun of Hebrew-Aramaic origin that keeps its Hebrew spelling

28. נאָך

    nokh

    More / another

    Usage

    Used to ask for an addition: "נאָך אַ גלאָז" (another glass)

    Grammar Note

    As in "איך דאַרף נאָך צוקער" (I need more sugar). The same spelling is also the preposition "after"

29. האַלב

    halb

    Half

    Usage

    For half of something, for example when ordering a smaller portion

    Grammar Note

    In telling time, "האַלב פֿיר" is 3:30 (half to four), as in German

30. אַלץ

    alts

    Everything

    Usage

    Means everything: "אַלץ איז ביליק" (everything is cheap)

    Grammar Note

    To say "all" of several people or things, use "אַלע"

31. גענוג!

    genug!

    Enough!

    Usage

    Said when you have had enough

    Grammar Note

    Adding "שוין" strengthens it: "גענוג שוין!" (that is quite enough)

32. פֿריש

    frish

    Fresh

    Usage

    For the freshness of food or bread

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it takes an ending such as "פֿרישער"

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