Adjectives add color and depth to your sentences, allowing you to express opinions, describe things, and make conversations more engaging. As a beginner, mastering a few common adjectives will help you navigate daily conversations with ease. In this article, we’ll cover must-know adjectives and show you how to use them in sentences.
1. Basic Adjectives to Describe People
- nett (nice): Sie ist nett. (She is nice.)
- freundlich (friendly): Mein Nachbar ist freundlich. (My neighbor is friendly.)
- glücklich (happy): Ich bin glücklich heute. (I am happy today.)
- traurig (sad): Er sieht traurig aus. (He looks sad.)
2. Adjectives for Sizes and Shapes
- groß (big): Das Haus ist groß. (The house is big.)
- klein (small): Mein Auto ist klein. (My car is small.)
- lang (long): Der Tisch ist lang. (The table is long.)
- kurz (short): Das Kleid ist zu kurz. (The dress is too short.)
3. Adjectives for Colors
- rot (red): Die Blume ist rot. (The flower is red.)
- blau (blue): Der Himmel ist blau. (The sky is blue.)
- weiß (white): Der Schnee ist weiß. (The snow is white.)
- schwarz (black): Die Katze ist schwarz. (The cat is black.)
4. Adjectives for Quality
- gut (good): Das Essen ist gut. (The food is good.)
- schlecht (bad): Der Film war schlecht. (The movie was bad.)
- interessant (interesting): Das Buch ist interessant. (The book is interesting.)
- langweilig (boring): Der Unterricht war langweilig. (The class was boring.)
5. Adjectives for Temperature
- kalt (cold): Das Wasser ist kalt. (The water is cold.)
- warm (warm): Die Suppe ist warm. (The soup is warm.)
- heiß (hot): Der Kaffee ist heiß. (The coffee is hot.)
How to Use Adjectives in Sentences
In German, adjectives often change their form based on whether they come before a noun (with an article) or after a verb like sein (to be).
- Before a noun with an article:
- Das große Haus. (The big house.)
- Ein roter Apfel. (A red apple.)
- After a verb:
- Das Haus ist groß. (The house is big.)
- Der Apfel ist rot. (The apple is red.)
💡 Tip: Focus on using adjectives after verbs to simplify speaking as a beginner!
10 Sentences to Practice
- Ich bin glücklich heute.
- Das Buch ist interessant.
- Mein Hund ist klein und freundlich.
- Die Blume ist rot.
- Das Wasser ist kalt, aber der Kaffee ist heiß.
- Er sieht traurig aus.
- Der Himmel ist blau und schön.
- Das Kleid ist zu kurz für mich.
- Der Unterricht war langweilig.
- Die Katze ist schwarz und nett.
Vocabulary Booster
| German Word | Type | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| nett | Adjective | Nice |
| freundlich | Adjective | Friendly |
| glücklich | Adjective | Happy |
| traurig | Adjective | Sad |
| groß | Adjective | Big |
| klein | Adjective | Small |
| lang | Adjective | Long |
| kurz | Adjective | Short |
| rot | Adjective | Red |
| blau | Adjective | Blue |
| weiß | Adjective | White |
| schwarz | Adjective | Black |
| gut | Adjective | Good |
| schlecht | Adjective | Bad |
| interessant | Adjective | Interesting |
| langweilig | Adjective | Boring |
| kalt | Adjective | Cold |
| warm | Adjective | Warm |
| heiß | Adjective | Hot |
| schön | Adjective | Beautiful |
Final Thoughts
Adjectives are powerful tools to make your conversations more expressive and dynamic. Start with these common adjectives, use them in simple sentences, and practice daily. With time, you’ll find yourself describing the world around you in German naturally! Keep speaking—it’s the key to success!