Adjectives

1. كبير

   kabīr

   Big

   Usage

   For stating a size — clothes or rooms

2. صغير

   ṣaghīr

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big — for asking for a smaller size

3. ثقيل

   thaqīl

   Heavy

   Usage

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

4. خفيف

   khafīf

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from light meaning bright

5. غالي

   ghālī

   Expensive

   Usage

   High in price — the opening move when haggling

6. رخيص

   rakhīṣ

   Cheap

   Usage

   The opposite of expensive — for asking for something cheaper

7. ساخن

   sākhin

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — kept separate from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   ساخن (sākhin) is hot to the touch; hot weather uses حار, as in الجو حار ("the weather is hot").

8. بارد

   bārid

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — kept separate from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   بارد (bārid) covers both cold objects and cold weather; for weather say الجو بارد ("the weather is cold").

9. جديد

   jadīd

   New

   Usage

   Brand new — also used when asking for a replacement

10. قديم

    qadīm

    Old (thing)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    قديم (qadīm) is for objects; for people use مسن (musinn).

11. شاب

    shābb

    Young

    Usage

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

12. مسن

    musinn

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, about people — a different word from old things

13. نظيف

    naẓīf

    Clean

    Usage

    For praising cleanliness, and for praising a view

14. وسخ

    wasikh

    Dirty

    Usage

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

15. جيد

    jayyid

    Good

    Usage

    A positive verdict, also usable to signal agreement

16. سيئ

    sayyiʾ

    Bad

    Usage

    A negative verdict — also used of health and weather

17. قريب

    qarīb

    Near

    Usage

    Close by — for checking whether you can walk

18. بعيد

    baʿīd

    Far

    Usage

    Far away — your cue to look for transport

19. مبكر

    mubakkir

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — for first departures and opening hours

    Grammar Note

    مبكر (mubakkir) is early in time; fast in speed is سريع (sarīʿ).

20. متأخر

    mutaʾakhkhir

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — for last departures and closing hours

    Grammar Note

    متأخر (muta'akhkhir) is late in time; slow in speed is بطيء (baṭīʾ).

21. كثير

    kathīr

    Many

    Usage

    A large amount or number — also used to describe crowds

22. قليل

    qalīl

    Few

    Usage

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

23. الجو حار

    al-jaww ḥārr

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Hot weather — learn it separately from hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Literally "the weather is hot"; الجو (al-jaww) means the weather.

24. الجو بارد

    al-jaww bārid

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Cold weather — learn it separately from cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Literally "the weather is cold". For a cold object, بارد stands on its own.

25. لطيف

    laṭīf

    Cute

    Usage

    Used broadly for people, objects, and animals

26. أنيق

    anīq

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for praising the look of a person or thing

27. لذيذ

    ladhīdh

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment at a meal

28. رائع!

    rāʾiʿ!

    Amazing

    Usage

    Used to express surprise or admiration

29. ممتع

    mumtiʿ

    Fun

    Usage

    For reacting to an experience itself

30. أكثر

    akthar

    More

    Usage

    Shown when asking for more of something

31. قليلاً فقط

    qalīlan faqaṭ

    Just a little

    Usage

    Shown when you want only a small amount

32. نصف

    niṣf

    Half

    Usage

    Shown when asking for half the amount

33. كل شيء

    kull shayʾ

    All of it

    Usage

    Shown to say you want all of it

34. يكفي

    yakfī

    That is enough

    Usage

    Shown to stop someone pouring or serving more

35. حالاً

    ḥālan

    Right now

    Usage

    Shown to say something is needed immediately

36. شخص واحد

    shakhṣ wāḥid

    One person

    Usage

    Shown when stating a party size for a table or room

37. شخصان

    shakhṣān

    Two people

    Usage

    The formal dual form; colloquially shakhṣayn

38. ثلاثة أشخاص

    thalāthat ashkhāṣ

    Three people

    Usage

    Shown when stating a party size for a table or room

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