Adjectives

1. suur

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Estonian adjectives have no gender but agree in case with the noun

2. väike

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Genitive "väikese"

3. raske

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Means both "heavy" and "difficult"

4. kerge

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Means "light in weight" and "easy"; light in colour is "hele"

5. kallis

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Means both "expensive" and "dear"

6. odav

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Genitive "odava"

7. kuum

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; hot weather is "palav", a different word

8. külm

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; also used for weather

9. uus

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Genitive "uue"

10. vana

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; for people the polite word is "eakas"

11. noor

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Genitive "noore"

12. eakas

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an elderly person, from "iga" (age)

13. puhas

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    "Clean" only; beautiful is "ilus"

14. räpane

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    "Must" is also used for dirty, but it properly means "black" — "räpane" is unambiguous

15. hea

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    The genitive is also "hea"

16. halb

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Genitive "halva"

17. lähedal

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    An adverbial case form; "Kas see on lähedal?" is the standard question

18. kaugel

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    An adverbial case form; "Kas see on kaugel?" is the traveller's standard question

19. varajane

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "kiire"

20. hiline

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "aeglane"

21. palju

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Works for both count and amount

22. vähe

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Works for both count and amount; means "a little / few"

23. On palav

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Hot weather uses "palav", a word distinct from "kuum" for hot objects

24. On külm

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses a subjectless impersonal clause; the adjective is still "külm"

25. Armas

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

26. Lahe

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    A colloquial word

27. Maitsev

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. Hämmastav

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. Lõbus

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

30. rohkem

    More

    Usage

    Ask for more or a refill; comparative of "palju" (much)

31. natuke

    Just a little

    Usage

    Ask for a smaller portion or amount

32. pool

    Half

    Usage

    Ask for half the amount

33. kõik

    All

    Usage

    Indicate "all of it", including when settling one bill for everything

34. Aitab

    That's enough

    Usage

    Stops someone from serving more; said firmly it also works as a refusal

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