Basic Adjectives Основны́е прилага́тельные
19 Russian words on the topic of basic adjectives — each with a picture, an audio recording and an example sentence. Words that describe. Given in the masculine singular; the ending changes with gender and number (но́вый дом, но́вая кни́га).
| Picture | English | Russian · Ру́сский | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | big | большо́й | Comparative: бо́льше (also 'more'). |
 | small | ма́ленький | Comparative: ме́ньше (also 'less'). |
 | good | хоро́ший | Adverb: хорошо́. ⚠️ IrregularIrregular comparative: лу́чше. |
 | bad | плохо́й | Adverb: пло́хо. ⚠️ IrregularIrregular comparative: ху́же. |
 | beautiful | краси́вый | Beauty: красота́. 🔗 Word familyHistorically related to кра́сный (red). |
 | ugly | уро́дливый | A strong word; milder: некраси́вый ('not pretty'). |
 | new | но́вый | 🔗 Word familyAncient cognate of 'new' — same Indo-European root. |
 | old | ста́рый | 🔗 Word familyста́рший = elder, senior. |
 | young | молодо́й | 🔗 Word familySame family: молоде́ц! ('well done!'). |
 | hot | горя́чий | 🔀 Several meaningsFor objects; for weather use жа́ркий/жа́рко. |
 | cold | холо́дный | ⚠️ GenderAdverb: хо́лодно — the stress jumps to the start. |
 | happy | сча́стливый | The т is silent. 🔗 Word familyHappiness: сча́стье. |
 | sad | гру́стный | Silent т: pronounced 'гру́сный'. 🔗 Word familySadness: грусть. |
 | easy | лёгкий | 🔀 Several meaningsMeans both 'easy' (a task) and 'light' (weight). |
 | difficult | тру́дный | 🔗 Word familySame family: труд (labor). тру́дно = it's hard. |
 | expensive | дорого́й | 🔀 Several meaningsAlso 'dear': дорого́й друг = dear friend. |
 | cheap | дешёвый | Adverb: дёшево; ё is always stressed. |
 | fast | бы́стрый | Adverb: бы́стро ('quickly!'). |
 | slow | ме́дленный | Note the double нн. Adverb: ме́дленно. |
See also:Colors