Adjectives

1. grande

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Same form for both genders; plural "grandes"

2. pequeno

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "pequena", plurals "pequenos / pequenas"

3. pesado

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "pesada", plurals "pesados / pesadas"

4. leve

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Same form for both genders; light in weight — light in colour is "claro"

5. caro

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "cara"; "É muito caro." opens a negotiation

6. barato

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "barata", plurals "baratos / baratas"

7. quente

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch, same for both genders; weather is "Está calor"

8. frio

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; feminine "fria". Weather is "Está frio"

9. novo

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "nova"; the vowel opens in the feminine form

10. velho

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; feminine "velha". Applied to a person it is somewhat rude

11. jovem

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; plural "jovens"

12. idoso

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an elderly person; feminine "idosa". Avoid "velho" for people

13. limpo

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "limpa"; "clean" only — beautiful is "bonito"

14. sujo

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "suja", plurals "sujos / sujas"

15. bom

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "boa", plurals "bons / boas"

16. mau

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "má", plurals "maus / más"

17. perto

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    An adverb: "É perto?" The adjective is "próximo"

18. longe

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; "É longe?" is the traveller's standard question

19. cedo

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "rápido"

20. tarde

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "lento"

21. muitos

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural; "muitas" with feminine nouns, "muito" for amounts

22. poucos

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural; "poucas" with feminine nouns, "pouco" for amounts

23. Está calor

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses "estar" plus the noun "calor"; a hot object is "quente"

24. Está frio

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses "estar" plus "frio"; a cold object is simply "frio"

25. giro

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "gira"; in Brazil "fofo / fofa" is more common

26. fixe

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    Invariable colloquial word; Brazilians use "legal" instead

27. delicioso

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "deliciosa"

28. incrível

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders

29. divertido

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "divertida"

30. mais

    More

    Usage

    Ask for a refill or an extra; also used as "mais um" for one more

31. só um pouco

    Just a little

    Usage

    Show it to ask for a small amount when food or drink is being served

32. metade

    Half

    Usage

    Ask for half the amount or half the price; in Portuguese restaurants "meia dose" also gets you a half portion

33. tudo

    All of it

    Usage

    Everything taken as one lump; for countable items ("all of them") use "todos"

34. é suficiente

    That is enough

    Usage

    Show it to stop someone pouring or serving more; "chega" means the same but can sound blunt

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