Adjectives

1. Duży

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Headwords are masculine singular nominative: duża (fem.), duże (neut.).

2. Mały

   Small

   Usage

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

3. Ciężki

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

4. Lekki

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

5. Drogi

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

6. Tani

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

7. Gorący

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   "gorący" is hot to the touch; for weather Polish uses the adverb "gorąco" (Jest gorąco).

8. Zimny

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

9. Nowy

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

10. Stary

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Use "stary" for things; "starszy" is politer for a person.

11. Młody

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. Starszy

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

13. Czysty

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

14. Brudny

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

15. Dobry

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

16. Zły

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

17. Bliski

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

18. Daleki

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

19. Wczesny

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    "wczesny" is early in time; fast in speed is "szybki".

20. Późny

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    "późny" is late in time; slow in speed is "powolny".

21. Dużo

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

22. Mało

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

23. Gorąco

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the adverb "gorąco" (Jest gorąco = it is hot).

24. Zimno

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the adverb "zimno" (Jest zimno). A cold drink is "zimny".

25. Uroczy

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "urocza", neuter "urocze"

26. Fajny

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    A colloquial word; feminine "fajna"

27. Pyszny

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "pyszna"

28. Niesamowity

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "niesamowita"

29. Zabawny

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "zabawna"

30. Więcej

    More

    Usage

    Show this to ask for a refill or an extra portion; "less" is "mniej"

31. Tylko trochę

    Just a little

    Usage

    Show this to ask for a small amount — useful for sauce, sugar, or chilli

32. Połowa

    Half

    Usage

    Show this to ask for half the amount; "half a portion" is "pół porcji"

33. Wszystko

    All / everything

    Usage

    Show this to mean "all of it"; "how much for everything?" is "Ile za wszystko?"

34. Wystarczy, dziękuję

    That's enough, thank you

    Usage

    Show this to stop someone mid-pour or mid-serving

35. Natychmiast

    Immediately

    Usage

    Show this when something is urgent; the softer "right away" is "od razu"

36. Jedna osoba

    One person

    Usage

    Show this at a restaurant or ticket counter to give your party size

37. Dwie osoby

    Two people

    Usage

    Show this at a restaurant or ticket counter to give your party size

    Grammar Note

    "Osoba" is feminine, so the numeral is "dwie"; "dwa" is used with masculine and neuter nouns

38. Trzy osoby

    Three people

    Usage

    Show this at a restaurant or ticket counter to give your party size

    Grammar Note

    From five upwards the noun goes into the genitive: "pięć osób"

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