Adjectives

1. grande

   Big

   Usage

   The basic word for size. Same form for both genders

   Grammar Note

   Same form for masculine and feminine; plural grandes

2. pequeno

   Small

   Usage

   Describes size. The feminine form is pequena

   Grammar Note

   Changes with gender: pequeno / pequena. Spelled with n, without the ñ of Spanish "pequeño"

3. pesado

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describes the weight of luggage. Feminine: pesada

   Grammar Note

   Changes with gender. Also used figuratively for something tiring or tedious

4. lixeiro

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Describes light luggage. Feminine: lixeira. Leve is a synonym

   Grammar Note

   Spelled with x (not Spanish ligero nor Portuguese ligeiro). Changes with gender

5. caro

   Expensive

   Usage

   Says that a price is high. Feminine: cara

   Grammar Note

   Changes with gender: caro / cara; plural caros / caras

6. barato

   Cheap

   Usage

   Says that a price is low. Feminine: barata

   Grammar Note

   Changes with gender. The opposite of caro

7. quente

   Hot

   Usage

   Describes hot food, drinks or water. For hot weather use "Fai calor"

   Grammar Note

   Same form for both genders; plural quentes. Not Spanish "caliente"

8. frío

   Cold

   Usage

   Describes cold drinks or food. Feminine: fría

   Grammar Note

   The í carries an accent. Feminine fría; plural fríos / frías

9. novo

   New

   Usage

   Describes something new. Feminine: nova

   Grammar Note

   Changes with gender. Spelled differently from Spanish nuevo. It can also mean "young"

10. vello

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Describes an old or worn thing. Feminine: vella

    Grammar Note

    Spelled with ll (not Portuguese velho nor Spanish viejo). Used for people and things

11. mozo

    Young

    Usage

    Describes a young person. Feminine: moza. Novo / nova also works

    Grammar Note

    The RAG dictionary recommends mozo / novo over xove. Changes with gender

12. ancián

    Old (person)

    Usage

    A polite word for an elderly person. Feminine: anciá

    Grammar Note

    Feminine of -án words is -á (ancián → anciá); plural anciáns / anciás. "Vello" can sound blunt for a person

13. limpo

    Clean

    Usage

    Describes a clean room, plate or toilet. Feminine: limpa

    Grammar Note

    Changes with gender. No -io ending as in Spanish limpio

14. sucio

    Dirty

    Usage

    Describes a dirty room, plate or toilet. Feminine: sucia

    Grammar Note

    Changes with gender: sucio / sucia. The opposite of limpo

15. bo

    Good

    Usage

    The all-purpose word for good: food, service, weather. Feminine: boa

    Grammar Note

    Forms: bo / boa / bos / boas (not Spanish bueno nor Portuguese bom)

16. malo

    Bad

    Usage

    Says that quality or condition is bad. Feminine: mala

    Grammar Note

    Changes with gender. The opposite of bo

17. preto

    Near

    Usage

    Says that a place is close. "Está preto?" means "Is it near?"

    Grammar Note

    Used as an adverb, so it does not change (RAG lists the adverb sense "a short distance away"). The opposite is lonxe

18. lonxe

    Far

    Usage

    Says that a place is far. "Está lonxe?" means "Is it far?"

    Grammar Note

    An adverb, so it does not change. Spelled with x (not Portuguese longe nor Spanish lejos)

19. cedo

    Early

    Usage

    Says that it is early. "Chegamos cedo" means "We arrived early"

    Grammar Note

    An adverb, so it does not change. The opposite of tarde

20. tarde

    Late

    Usage

    Says that it is late. As a noun, the same word means afternoon

    Grammar Note

    An adverb, so it does not change. In "Boas tardes" it is the noun for afternoon

21. moitos

    Many

    Usage

    For many countable things. Feminine: moitas. Moito is used for uncountable amounts

    Grammar Note

    Forms: moito / moita / moitos / moitas. "muito" is flagged as less recommended by the RAG dictionary

22. poucos

    Few

    Usage

    For few countable things. Feminine: poucas. Pouco is used for uncountable amounts

    Grammar Note

    Forms: pouco / pouca / poucos / poucas. Spelled differently from Spanish poco

23. Fai calor

    It's hot (weather)

    Usage

    Standard way to say that the weather is hot

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses facer (Fai calor), not Spanish "hace". To say you feel hot: "Teño calor"

24. Fai frío

    It's cold (weather)

    Usage

    Standard way to say that the weather is cold

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses facer (Fai frío). To say you feel cold: "Teño frío"

25. lindo

    Cute

    Usage

    For something cute or pretty. Feminine: linda

    Grammar Note

    Changes with gender. In Galician "bonito" is also a fish, so lindo is the safe choice

26. xenial

    Cool / Great

    Usage

    Praise for a film, place or person, like "great" or "cool"

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders. Plural: xeniais (-l → -is)

27. delicioso

    Delicious

    Usage

    Praise for food. Feminine: deliciosa. Saboroso also works

    Grammar Note

    Changes with gender: delicioso / deliciosa; plural deliciosos / deliciosas

28. incrible

    Amazing

    Usage

    For something amazing or hard to believe. The RAG dictionary also accepts incríbel

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; plural incribles. No accent as in Spanish increíble

29. divertido

    Fun

    Usage

    For a fun game, person or film. Feminine: divertida

    Grammar Note

    Changes with gender. The opposite of aburrido

30. máis

    More

    Usage

    Ask for a refill or an extra; add the noun, as in "máis pan"

    Grammar Note

    máis carries an acute accent (not Spanish "más"). "One more" is outro / outra

31. só un pouco

    Just a little

    Usage

    Ask for a small amount, for example when being served food or a drink

    Grammar Note

    só (only) + un pouco (a little). Pouco is used for amounts of things that cannot be counted

32. a metade

    Half

    Usage

    Says half of a quantity or price, or asks for a half portion

    Grammar Note

    metade is feminine: a metade. Same word as Portuguese, not Spanish "mitad"

33. todo

    All of it

    Usage

    Says "all" or "everything". Feminine: toda

    Grammar Note

    Forms: todo / toda / todos / todas. Before a noun it takes the article (toda a noite)

34. Abonda

    That is enough

    Usage

    Tells someone that you have enough, for example when being served

    Grammar Note

    Third person singular of abondar (to be enough). Chega is a synonym

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