Adjectives

1. Besar

   Big

   Usage

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

2. Kecil

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. Berat

   Heavy

   Usage

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

4. Ringan

   Light (weight)

   Usage

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

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight. For bright use terang

5. Mahal

   Expensive

   Usage

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

6. Murah

   Cheap

   Usage

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

7. Panas

   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 cuaca panas

8. Dingin

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   For cold drinks and objects. Cold weather is cuaca dingin

9. Baru

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. Lama

    Old (thing)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Old, of an object; it also means "a long time". For a person use tua

11. Muda

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. Tua

    Old (person)

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Said of people; objects take lama instead

13. Bersih

    Clean

    Usage

    Praises both cleanliness and beauty

14. Kotor

    Dirty

    Usage

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

15. Bagus

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. Buruk

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. Dekat

    Near

    Usage

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

18. Jauh

    Far

    Usage

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

19. Awal

    Early

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Early in time. Fast in speed is cepat

20. Terlambat

    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 lambat

21. Banyak

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. Sedikit

    Few

    Usage

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

23. Cuaca panas

    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 panas

24. Cuaca dingin

    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 dingin

25. Lucu

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, animals, or things

26. Keren

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly used to compliment someone's or something's appearance

27. Enak

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give during a meal

28. Hebat

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. Seru

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to share how enjoyable an experience was

30. Lebih banyak

    More

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for a larger amount; to order another portion, "tambah" is used

31. Sedikit saja

    Just a little

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for only a small amount

32. Setengah

    Half

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for half the amount

33. Semua

    All

    Usage

    Indicates all of something, with nothing left out

34. Cukup

    That is enough

    Usage

    Says you have enough; said forcefully it can also mean "stop", so show it calmly when declining

35. Sekarang juga

    Right now

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for something to happen immediately

36. Satu orang

    One person

    Usage

    Point to this to give the number of people for a table or room

37. Dua orang

    Two people

    Usage

    Point to this to give the number of people for a table or room

38. Tiga orang

    Three people

    Usage

    Point to this to give the number of people for a table or room

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