German AdjectivesAn Introduction To Adjectives

In the previous lesson on colors, we already started learning some helpful adjectives, such as: grün, blau, rot.

Der Apfel ist rot.

The apple is red.

Let's add to our vocabulary, with some other German adjectives, which will help us to describe the subjects or objects of our sentences, making them more meaningful.

The Five Senses

First, let's focus on the senses.

SenseDescriptions
tastetasty, unpleasant, sweet, salty, bitter, sour, spicy
touchcold, hot, warm, wet, dry, slippery, sticky
soundloud, quiet, silent, deafening
sightbeautiful, ugly, bright, dark
smellfragrant, smelly, fresh, musty

Now let's try to build a few sentences using some of these adjectives:

No Mistakes
1

Banane
süß.
ist
Die

The type of adjective being used in our sentences here is called a predicative adjective. This type of adjective comes after a verb, as in the sentence: "der Apfel ist lecker".

☝️Describing Smell & Taste

To describe things we smell, it's also common to use the expression "das riecht nach...", which means "that smells like...". The sentence "Das riecht nach Rauch", for example, translates as "That smells like smoke". Likewise, we may also use the expression "Das schmeckt nach...", which means "that tastes like...". So, for example, "Das schmeckt nach Käse" means "that tastes like cheese".

Size, Shape + Weight

1. Describing Size

Die Maus ist klein.

The mouse is small.
groß
big
klein
small
dünn
thin
dick
thick
German words to describe size.

2. Describing Shape

Der Fisch ist rund.

The fish is round.
rund
round
flach
flat
eckig
angular
German words to describe shape.

3. Describing Weight

Der Elefant ist schwer.

The elephant is big.
schwer
heavy
leicht
light
German words to describe weight.

Once again, try to build a few sentences using the Size, Shape + Weight adjectives we've just learned:

No Mistakes
1

Mond
Der
rund.
ist

Emotions + Judgement

Describing Emotions

glücklich
happy
traurig
sad
wütend
angry
gelangweilt
bored
nervös
nervous
aufgeregt
excited
gelassen
calm
verwirrt
confused

Describing Judgments

gut
good
schlecht
bad
unschuldig
innocent
schuldig
guilty
böse
evil

Try to build a few sentences using the Emotions + Judgement adjectives we've just learned:

No Mistakes
1

Mädchen
traurig.
ist
Das

Time

früh
early
spät
late
schnell
fast
langsam
slow

Try to build a few sentences using the Time adjectives we've just learned:

No Mistakes
1

Schildkröte
langsam.
ist
Die

Well done! 🎉

You are starting to use adjectives in your sentences, other than the colors you've already learned!

Now, if you'd like to be more specific with your descriptions, there are a few words and phrases that can help us!

Modifying Adjectives

Sometimes, we may want to add or take away emphasis in our descriptions. Instead of simply saying that the day is cold, for example, it may be more suitable to say that the day is very cold, or too cold, or perhaps only a little cold.

Words like little or very modify the adjectives, to make their meaning more specific. Here is a list of such words and phrases that may come in handy:

nicht
not
sehr
very
ein wenig
a little
unfassbar
unbelievably
etwas
somewhat

Using what we've just learned, try out the exercise below:

Das Getränk ist ? kalt.(too)

ein wenigzunicht
Das Essen ist ? heiß genug.(not)

nichtsehretwas
Die Musik ist ? angenehm.(very)

unfassbarsehrein wenig
Seine Stimme ist ? nervig.(a little)

etwassehrnicht

Well done! 🎉

You are now able to be more specific with your descriptions, in German!

Now you may head over to the next lesson on adjective declension, to learn how to make sentences with adjectives more flexible.