Adjectives

1. grand

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Base form is masculine singular; feminine "grande", plurals "grands / grandes"

2. petit

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "petite", plurals "petits / petites"; the final "t" is silent in the masculine

3. lourd

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "lourde", plurals "lourds / lourdes"

4. léger

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "légère"; this is light in weight — "clair" is light in colour

5. cher

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "chère"; the same word also means "dear" in letters

6. bon marché

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Invariable — it never agrees. Colloquially people say "pas cher"

7. chaud

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; feminine "chaude". For weather French says "Il fait chaud"

8. froid

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; feminine "froide". For weather, "Il fait froid"

9. nouveau

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "nouvelle", "nouvel" before a vowel; brand-new is "neuf / neuve"

10. vieux

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; feminine "vieille", "vieil" before a vowel

11. jeune

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; plural "jeunes"

12. âgé

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an aged person; feminine "âgée". Calling someone "vieux" can offend

13. propre

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    "Clean" when it follows the noun; placed before the noun it means "own"

14. sale

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; plural "sales"

15. bon

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "bonne", plurals "bons / bonnes"

16. mauvais

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mauvaise"; masculine singular and plural look the same

17. près

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    An adverb used with "être": "C'est près ?" The adjective is "proche"

18. loin

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; "C'est loin ?" is the traveller's standard question

19. tôt

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "vite" or "rapide"

20. tard

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "lent"

21. beaucoup

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it takes "de": "beaucoup de gens"

22. peu

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it takes "de": "peu de gens"

23. Il fait chaud

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the impersonal "il fait"; a hot object is simply "chaud"

24. Il fait froid

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the impersonal "il fait"; a cold object is simply "froid"

25. mignon

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mignonne", plurals "mignons / mignonnes"

26. stylé

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "stylée", plurals "stylés / stylées"; the borrowed word "cool" is also widely understood

27. délicieux

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "délicieuse"; casually people often just say "c'est trop bon"

28. incroyable

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Same form for both genders; plural "incroyables"

29. amusant

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "amusante", plurals "amusants / amusantes"

30. plus

    More

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for more; inside a sentence "ne...plus" means the opposite ("no more"), so show it as a standalone card

31. juste un peu

    Just a little

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for only a small amount

32. la moitié

    Half

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for half the amount

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "half of X" is "la moitié de" + noun

33. tout

    All

    Usage

    Point to this for "all of it" or to ask the total

    Grammar Note

    With countable plurals it becomes "tous" (masculine) or "toutes" (feminine)

34. C'est assez, merci

    That's enough, thank you

    Usage

    Shown to stop someone pouring or serving more

    Grammar Note

    "Ça suffit !" sounds irritated; use this when you simply want to decline more

35. tout de suite

    Right now

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for something immediately

36. une personne

    One person

    Usage

    Point to this to give your party size at a restaurant or counter

    Grammar Note

    "Personne" is feminine, so it stays "une personne" even for a man

37. deux personnes

    Two people

    Usage

    Point to this to give your party size at a restaurant or counter

38. trois personnes

    Three people

    Usage

    Point to this to give your party size at a restaurant or counter

Browse all TravelPhrases languages