Adjectives

1. i madh

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Albanian adjectives take a linking article; the feminine is "e madhe"

2. i vogël

   Small

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "e vogël"; plurals "të vegjël / të vogla"

3. i rëndë

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "e rëndë"; it can also mean "difficult"

4. i lehtë

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Means both "light in weight" and "easy"; feminine "e lehtë"

5. i shtrenjtë

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   Feminine "e shtrenjtë"; "Shumë i shtrenjtë!" opens a negotiation

6. i lirë

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Means both "cheap" and "free"; free of charge is "falas"

7. i nxehtë

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; feminine "e nxehtë". For weather, "Bën vapë"

8. i ftohtë

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; feminine "e ftohtë". For weather, "Bën ftohtë"

9. i ri

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   Means "new"; applied to a person the same word means "young". Feminine "e re"

10. i vjetër

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; feminine "e vjetër". Not used of people

11. i ri

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Applied to a person it means "young" — the same word that means "new" for objects

12. i moshuar

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an elderly person, from "moshë" (age); feminine "e moshuar"

13. i pastër

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "e pastër"; "clean" only — beautiful is "i bukur"

14. i pistë

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "e pistë"; "i ndotur" is a synonym

15. i mirë

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "e mirë"; plurals "të mirë / të mira"

16. i keq

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "e keqe"; plurals "të këqij / të këqija"

17. afër

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; "A është afër?" is the standard question. The adjective is "i afërt"

18. larg

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; "A është larg?" is the traveller's standard question

19. herët

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "shpejt"

20. vonë

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "ngadalë"

21. shumë

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Works for count and amount; it also means "very"

22. pak

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Works for count and amount; means "a little / few"

23. Bën vapë

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the verb "bën" with the noun "vapë" (heat), not the adjective "i nxehtë"

24. Bën ftohtë

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the impersonal "bën"; a cold object takes the adjective "i ftohtë"

25. i lezetshëm

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "e lezetshme"

26. kul

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English; invariable in colloquial use

27. i shijshëm

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "e shijshme"

28. i mahnitshëm

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "e mahnitshme"

29. argëtues

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "argëtuese"

30. më shumë

    More

    Usage

    For asking for more or a refill; distinct from "shumë" (a lot)

31. vetëm pak

    Just a little

    Usage

    To ask for a small portion

32. gjysmë

    Half

    Usage

    For halving a portion or a bill; definite form "gjysma"

33. të gjitha

    All of it

    Usage

    Used when pointing at a set of items; the abstract "everything" is "gjithçka"

34. Mjaft, faleminderit

    That is enough, thank you

    Usage

    To decline a refill or more food; "Mjaft" on its own can sound sharp

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