Adjectives

1. Liels

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   The listed form is the masculine singular nominative (indefinite); it agrees with the noun: liela (feminine).

2. Mazs

   Small

   Usage

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

3. Smags

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

4. Viegls

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

5. Dārgs

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

6. Lēts

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

7. Karsts

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

8. Auksts

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

9. Jauns

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   "Jauns" means both new and young; to make the age sense explicit say "gados jauns".

10. Vecs

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Use "vecs" for things; for a person "gados vecs" is politer than bare vecs.

11. Gados jauns

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. Gados vecs

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

13. Tīrs

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

14. Netīrs

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

15. Labs

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

16. Slikts

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

17. Tuvs

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

18. Tāls

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

19. Agrs

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    "agrs" is early in time; fast in speed is "ātrs".

20. Vēls

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    "vēls" is late in time; slow in speed is "lēns".

21. Daudz

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

22. Maz

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

23. Karsts laiks

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather is "karsts laiks"; something hot to the touch is just "karsts".

24. Auksts laiks

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather is "auksts laiks"; a cold drink is just "auksts".

25. Mīļš

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mīļa"

26. Foršs

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    A colloquial word; feminine "forša"

27. Garšīgs

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "garšīga"

28. Pārsteidzošs

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "pārsteidzoša"

29. Jautrs

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "jautra"

30. Vairāk

    VAI-rāk

    More

    Usage

    Ask for a larger amount; the opposite is "mazāk"

31. Tikai mazliet

    Just a little

    Usage

    Ask for a small portion or a small pour

Browse all TravelPhrases languages