Adjectives

1. grande

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Same form for both genders; plural "grandi"

2. piccolo

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "piccola", plurals "piccoli / piccole"

3. pesante

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Same form for both genders; plural "pesanti"

4. leggero

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "leggera"; light in weight — light in colour is "chiaro"

5. caro

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "cara"; it also means "dear". For price alone, "costoso" is unambiguous

6. economico

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "economica"; "a buon mercato" is a synonym

7. caldo

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; feminine "calda". Weather is "Fa caldo"

8. freddo

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; feminine "fredda". Weather is "Fa freddo"

9. nuovo

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "nuova", plurals "nuovi / nuove"

10. vecchio

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; feminine "vecchia". Applied to a person it is somewhat rude

11. giovane

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; plural "giovani"

12. anziano

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an elderly person; feminine "anziana". Avoid "vecchio" for people

13. pulito

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "pulita"; "clean" only — beautiful is "bello"

14. sporco

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "sporca", plurals "sporchi / sporche"

15. buono

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "buona"; often shortened to "buon" before a noun

16. cattivo

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "cattiva"; for poor quality "brutto" also works

17. vicino

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    Works as adjective and adverb; "È vicino?" is the standard question

18. lontano

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    Works as adjective and adverb; "È lontano?" is the standard question

19. presto

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "veloce"

20. tardi

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "lento"

21. molti

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural; use "molte" with feminine nouns and "molto" for amounts

22. pochi

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural; use "poche" with feminine nouns and "poco" for amounts

23. Fa caldo

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the impersonal verb "fare"; a hot object is simply "caldo"

24. Fa freddo

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the impersonal verb "fare"; a cold object is simply "freddo"

25. carino

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "carina"

26. fico

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    A colloquial word; feminine "fica". "Bello" is a more universal alternative

27. delizioso

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "deliziosa"

28. incredibile

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders

29. divertente

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders

30. di più

    More

    Usage

    Point at this to ask for a larger amount

31. solo un po'

    Just a little

    Usage

    Ask for a small amount; the apostrophe in "po'" marks the shortened "poco" and must be kept

32. metà

    Half

    Usage

    Ask for half the quantity or to split a cost in two

33. tutto

    All of it

    Usage

    Say that you want the whole lot

34. basta così

    That is enough

    Usage

    A polite "that is enough"; "Basta!" on its own is a sharp "stop it"

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