Adjectives in Hebrew agree with the noun they describe in gender (and number). A masculine noun takes a masculine adjective; a feminine noun takes a feminine adjective. Most feminine adjectives simply add ה- to the masculine form.
Word order: Adjectives come AFTER the noun in Hebrew. So "big house" = בַּיִת גָּדוֹל (bayit gadol) — literally "house big".
Core Hebrew Adjectives
| Masculine | Feminine | Transliteration (m/f) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| גָּדוֹל | גְּדוֹלָה | gadol / gdola | big / large |
| קָטָן | קְטַנָּה | katan / ktana | small / little |
| טוֹב | טוֹבָה | tov / tova | good |
| רַע | רָעָה | ra / ra'a | bad |
| חָדָשׁ | חֲדָשָׁה | chadash / chadasha | new |
| יָשָׁן | יְשָׁנָה | yashan / yeshana | old (for objects, not people) |
| זָקֵן | זְקֵנָה | zaken / zkena | old (for people) |
| חַם | חַמָּה | cham / chama | hot |
| קַר | קָרָה | kar / kara | cold |
| יָפֶה | יָפָה | yafe / yafa | beautiful / handsome |
| מְכֹעָר | מְכֹעֶרֶת | mechu'ar / mechu'eret | ugly |
| גָּבֹהַּ | גְּבוֹהָה | gavoah / gvoha | tall / high |
| נָמוּךְ | נְמוּכָה | namuch / nmucha | short / low |
| חָזָק | חֲזָקָה | chazak / chazaka | strong |
| חָלָשׁ | חֲלָשָׁה | chalash / chalasha | weak |
| מְהִיר | מְהִירָה | mahir / mahira | fast / quick |
| אִיטִי | אִיטִית | iti / itit | slow |
| קָרוֹב | קְרוֹבָה | karov / krova | near / close |
| רָחוֹק | רְחוֹקָה | rachok / rechoka | far |
| קַל | קַלָּה | kal / kala | easy / light (weight) |
| כָּבֵד | כְּבֵדָה | kaved / kveda | heavy / difficult |
Example Sentences
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| הַבַּיִת גָּדוֹל | Habayit gadol | The house is big |
| הַמְּכוֹנִית גְּדוֹלָה | Hamechonit gdola | The car is big (mechonit is feminine) |