Adjectives

1. Bikpela

   Big

   Usage

   For talking about size — asking to change clothes or a room

2. Liklik

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. Hevi

   Heavy

   Usage

   For talking about the weight of your bags at check-in

4. I no hevi

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright" in most languages

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight is expressed as "not heavy"; lait means bright

5. Dia

   Expensive

   Usage

   Say a price is high; it is the usual opening for haggling

6. I no dia

   Cheap

   Usage

   Cheap in price; also used to confirm the result of haggling

   Grammar Note

   Cheap is expressed as "not dear" — i no dia

7. Hat

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For hot food, drinks, or water — not for hot weather

   Grammar Note

   For hot food or water. Hot weather is Weta i hat

8. Kol

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   For cold drinks and objects. Cold weather is Weta i kol

9. Nupela

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. Olpela

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object; do not use it about a person

    Grammar Note

    Old, of an object. For an elderly person use lapun

11. Yangpela

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. Lapun

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, said of a person — a different word from old (thing)

    Grammar Note

    Said of people; objects take olpela instead

13. Klin

    Clean

    Usage

    Praises both cleanliness and beauty

14. Doti

    Dirty

    Usage

    To point out that a room or dish is dirty; say it gently

15. Gutpela

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. Nogut

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. Klostu

    Near

    Usage

    Near in distance — you will hear it in answers to directions

18. Longwe

    Far

    Usage

    Far in distance; helps you decide whether to walk or ride

19. Eli

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — in many languages a different word from fast in speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time. Fast in speed is kwik

20. Let

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — in many languages a different word from slow in speed

    Grammar Note

    Late for a time. Slow in speed is isi

21. Planti

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. Liklik tasol

    Few

    Usage

    Few or little; use it to ask for a smaller amount

23. Weta i hat

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    For hot weather or a hot room — not for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    The weather is hot. For a hot object just say hat

24. Weta i kol

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    For cold weather or a cold room — not for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    The weather is cold. For a cold object just say kol

25. Naispela

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly about looks; from English "nice"

26. Switpela

    Delicious

    Usage

    The word you will reach for most often at the table; from English "sweet"

27. Nambawan

    Amazing

    Usage

    An expression of surprise and admiration; from English "number one"

28. Amamas

    Fun

    Usage

    For describing an experience itself; also covers "happy"

29. Moa

    More

    Usage

    Ask for more of something

30. Hap

    Half

    Usage

    Ask for half the amount

31. Olgeta

    All

    Usage

    Say you want all of it

32. Inap

    That is enough

    Usage

    Say stop when someone is serving you

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