Adjectives

1. iso

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Finnish adjectives have no gender but must agree in case with the noun

2. pieni

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Plural "pienet"

3. painava

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Derived from "paino" (weight)

4. kevyt

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight; light in colour is "vaalea"

5. kallis

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Plural "kalliit"; "Liian kallis!" opens a negotiation

6. halpa

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Plural "halvat" — the stem changes

7. kuuma

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; for weather Finnish says "On kuuma"

8. kylmä

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; for weather, "On kylmä"

9. uusi

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Plural "uudet" — the stem changes

10. vanha

    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 "iäkäs"

11. nuori

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Plural "nuoret"

12. iäkäs

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an elderly person, from "ikä" (age); gentler than "vanha"

13. puhdas

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    "Clean" only; beautiful is "kaunis"

14. likainen

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Derived from "lika" (dirt)

15. hyvä

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Plural "hyvät"

16. huono

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Plural "huonot"

17. lähellä

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    An adverbial case form; "Onko se lähellä?" is the standard question

18. kaukana

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    An adverbial case form; "Onko se kaukana?" is the traveller's standard question

19. aikainen

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "nopea"

20. myöhäinen

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "hidas"

21. monta

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    The partitive form used with countables; use "paljon" for amounts

22. vähän

    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 kuuma

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

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

24. On kylmä

    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 "kylmä"

25. söpö

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

26. siisti

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    Literally means "tidy/clean" but is widely used colloquially to mean "cool"

27. herkullinen

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. mahtava

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. hauska

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

30. enemmän

    More

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for more of something

    Grammar Note

    Comparative of paljon (much); "a bit more" is "vähän enemmän"

31. puolet

    Half

    Usage

    Use to ask for half a portion or to indicate half of a bill

    Grammar Note

    Attached to a noun the form is "puoli", e.g. "puoli annosta" (half a portion)

32. kaikki

    All

    Usage

    Point to this to mean all of it or the whole lot

    Grammar Note

    "Kaikki" covers both things and people (where it means "everyone"); a total sum is "yhteensä"

33. tarpeeksi

    Enough

    Usage

    Use to say whether an amount is sufficient

    Grammar Note

    "Not enough" is "ei tarpeeksi"; to stop someone serving more, say "Riittää"

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