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Most common adjectives in German

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The most common adjectives in German can have several meanings. Sicher can describe something safe or express certainty. Billig means inexpensive, but it can also suggest poor quality. Glücklich can describe happiness or good fortune, while Zufrieden means satisfied with a situation or result.

Egal often means that something does not matter or that either option is acceptable. It is normally used as a predicate, rather than directly before a noun. A short reply using Egal can sound indifferent or dismissive, depending on the tone and situation.

  1. Häufig /ˈhɔɪ̯fɪç/ Frequent A2Intermediate#
  2. Verschieden /fɛɐ̯ˈʃiːdn̩/ Different A2Intermediate#
  3. Ähnlich /ˈɛːnlɪç/ Similar A2Intermediate#
  4. Typisch /ˈtyːpɪʃ/ Typical A2Intermediate#
  5. Unbekannt /ˈʔʊnbəˌkant/ Unknown A2Intermediate#
  6. Notwendig /ˈnoːtˌvɛndɪç/ Necessary A2Intermediate#
  7. Egal /eˈɡaːl/ No matter A2Elementary#
  8. Gut /ɡuːt/ Good A1Elementary#
  9. Schlecht /ˈʃlɛçt/ Bad A1Elementary#
  10. Teuer /ˈtɔʏ̯ɐ/ Expensive A1Elementary#
  11. Falsch /ˈfalʃ/ Wrong A1Elementary#
  12. Richtig /ˈʁɪçtɪç/ Correct A1Elementary#
  13. Glücklich /ˈɡlʏklɪç/ Happy A1Elementary#
  14. Traurig /ˈtʁaʊ̯ʁɪç/ Sad A1Elementary#
  15. Müde /ˈmyːdə/ Tired A1Elementary#
  16. Schön /ˈʃøːn/ Beautiful A1Elementary#
  17. Groß /ɡʁoːs/ Large A1Elementary#
  18. Klein /klaɪ̯n/ Small A1Elementary#
  19. Alt /alt/ Old A1Elementary#
  20. Neu /ˈnɔʏ̯/ New A1Elementary#
  21. Heiß /haɪ̯s/ Hot A1Elementary#
  22. Kalt /kalt/ Cold A1Elementary#
  23. Warm /vaʁm/ Warm A1Elementary#
  24. Krank /kʁaŋk/ Ill A1Elementary#
  25. Langsam /ˈlaŋzaːm/ Slow A1Elementary#
  26. Zufrieden /tsuˈfʁiːdən/ Satisfied A2Elementary#
  27. Laut /laʊ̯t/ Loud A1Elementary#
  28. Leise /ˈlaɪ̯zə/ Quiet A1Elementary#
  29. Hell /hɛl/ Bright A1Elementary#
  30. Dunkel /ˈdʊŋkəl/ Dark A1Elementary#
  31. Schwierig /ˈʃviːʁɪç/ Difficult A1Elementary#
  32. Wichtig /ˈvɪçtɪç/ Important A1Elementary#
  33. Beschäftigt /bəˈʃɛftɪçt/ Busy A2Elementary#
  34. Ernst /ˈɛʁnst/ Serious A2Intermediate#
  35. Locker /ˈlɔkɐ/ Loose B1Intermediate#
  36. Kreativ /kʁeaˈtiːf/ Creative B1Intermediate#
  37. Wertvoll /ˈveːɐ̯tˌfɔl/ Valuable B1Intermediate#
  38. Einzigartig /ˈaɪ̯ntsɪçˌʔaːɐ̯tɪç/ Unique B1Intermediate#
  39. Schnell /ˈʃnɛl/ Fast A1Elementary#
  40. Kühl /kyːl/ Cool A2Elementary#
  41. Früh /fʁyː/ Early A1Elementary#
  42. Spät /ʃpɛːt/ Late A1Elementary#
  43. Nah /ˈnaː/ Close A1Elementary#
  44. Billig /ˈbɪlɪç/ Cheap A1Elementary#
  45. Jung /jʊŋ/ Young A1Elementary#
  46. Schwach /ˈʃvax/ Weak A2Elementary#
  47. Stark /ʃtaʁk/ Strong A1Elementary#
  48. Interessant /ɪntəʁɛˈsant/ Interesting A1Elementary#
  49. Langweilig /ˈlaŋˌvaɪ̯lɪç/ Boring A1Elementary#
  50. Hungrig /ˈhʊŋʁɪç/ Hungry A1Elementary#
  51. Satt /ˈzat/ Full up A1Elementary#
  52. Kurz /kʊʁt͡s/ Short A1Elementary#
  53. Lang /laŋ/ Long A1Elementary#
  54. Hoch /hoːx/ High A1Elementary#
  55. Fern /ˈfɛʁn/ Remote B1Intermediate#
  56. Einfach /ˈaɪ̯nfax/ One-way A1Elementary#
  57. Gefährlich /ɡəˈfɛːɐ̯lɪç/ Dangerous A2Elementary#
  58. Sauber /ˈzaʊ̯bɐ/ Clean A1Elementary#
  59. Schmutzig /ˈʃmʊtsɪç/ Dirty A1Elementary#
  60. Leer /leːɐ̯/ Empty A1Elementary#
  61. Voll /fɔl/ Full A1Elementary#
  62. Möglich /ˈmøːklɪç/ Possible A1Elementary#
  63. Unmöglich /ˈʔʊnˌmøːklɪç/ Impossible A2Elementary#
  64. Dumm /ˈdʊm/ Stupid A1Elementary#
  65. Intelligent /ɪntɛliˈɡɛnt/ Intelligent A2Elementary#
  66. Sicher /ˈzɪçɐ/ Secure A2Elementary#
  67. Stolz /ʃtɔlt͡s/ Proud A2Elementary#
  68. Ruhig /ˈʁuːɪç/ Calm A1Elementary#
  69. Freundlich /ˈfʁɔɪ̯ntlɪç/ Friendly A1Elementary#
  70. Offen /ˈɔfən/ Open A1Elementary#
  71. Geschlossen /ɡəˈʃlɔsən/ Closed A1Elementary#
  72. Plötzlich /ˈplœtslɪç/ Suddenly A2Elementary#
  73. Regelmäßig /ˈʁeːɡəlˌmɛːsɪç/ Regular A2Elementary#
  74. Perfekt /pɛɐ̯ˈfɛkt/ Perfect A2Elementary#
  75. Selten /ˈzɛltən/ Rare A2Elementary#
  76. Passiv /paˈsiːf/ Passive B1Intermediate#
  77. Traditionell /tʁaditsi̯oˈnɛl/ Traditional B1Intermediate#
  78. Künstlich /ˈkʏnstlɪç/ Artificial B1Intermediate#
  79. Frei /ˈfʁaɪ̯/ Vacant A1Elementary#
  80. Gesund /ɡəˈzʊnt/ Healthy A1Elementary#
  81. Elegant /eleˈɡant/ Elegant A2Elementary#
  82. Neugierig /ˈnɔʏ̯ˌɡiːʁɪç/ Curious A2Elementary#
  83. Bereit /bəˈʁaɪ̯t/ Ready A2Elementary#
  84. Nett /ˈnɛt/ Nice A1Elementary#
  85. Praktisch /ˈpʁaktɪʃ/ Practical A2Elementary#
  86. Natürlich /naˈtyːɐ̯lɪç/ Natural A2Elementary#
  87. Reich /ˈʁaɪ̯ç/ Rich A2Elementary#
  88. Unfreundlich /ˈʔʊnˌfʁɔʏ̯ntlɪç/ Unfriendly A2Elementary#
  89. Aktiv /akˈtiːf/ Active A2Elementary#
  90. Bekannt /bəˈkant/ Known A1Elementary#
  91. Modern /moˈdɛʁn/ Modern A1Elementary#
  92. Speziell /ʃpeˈt͡si̯ɛl/ Special B1Elementary#
  93. Lokal /loˈkaːl/ Local B1Elementary#
  94. Umfassend /ʊmˈfasənt/ Comprehensive B2Intermediate#
  95. Global /ɡloˈbaːl/ Global B1Intermediate#
  96. Hässlich /ˈhɛslɪç/ Ugly A2Elementary#
  97. Wach /vax/ Awake A2Elementary#
  98. Theoretisch /teoˈʁeːtɪʃ/ Theoretical B1Intermediate#
  99. Beliebt /bəˈliːpt/ Popular A2Elementary#

Rules to remember

  • These adjectives normally start with a lowercase letter in sentences, although the cards use capitals.
  • Before a noun, adjectives such as Gut and Klein take endings determined by gender, number, case and the preceding article. When they describe the subject after a linking verb, they have no inflectional ending.
  • The prefix un- forms opposites in pairs such as Möglich and Unmöglich, or Freundlich and Unfreundlich.

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