German adjectives have been the linguistic paint on the author’s canvas for famous German writers like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Cornelia Funke for centuries. Now it’s your turn to elevate your sentences in German using the descriptive power of these essential German words. We’ve compiled a huge list of German adjectives to help you learn how they work in the German language and how to use them in sentences whether you’re speaking or writing.
Table of Contents
What is an adjective?
An Adjektiv (adjective) is a word that describes a noun. They help to answer the questions “which one,” “what kind,” or “how many” regarding the people, places, or things about which you’d like to communicate. But how do adjectives work in German and do adjectives attach to nouns in German?
There are three types of adjectives in German: attributive, predicative, and adverbial. Which type of Adjektiv it is will tell you how to form the comparative and superlative of each adjective when needed, and lets you know if you need to adjust the ending of the Adjektiv.
- Attributive adjectives: These come directly before the noun they’re modifying and adjust their endings to agree with the number, grammatical gender, and German case of that noun
- Der schnelle Hund läuft. = The fast dog is running.
- Der schnelle Hund läuft. = The fast dog is running.
- Predicative adjectives: This type follow verbs like sein (to be), werden (will be), and bleiben (stay). These Adjektive do not change their ending because they are not directly modifying a noun.
- Die Blumen bleiben schön. = The flowers remain beautiful.
- Die Blumen bleiben schön. = The flowers remain beautiful.
- Adverbial adjectives: Use these to describe how an action is done, so it functions much like an adverb. These Adjektive, like predicative ones, do not change their ending and directly modify the verb of the sentence.
- Sie spricht deutlich. = She speaks clearly.
Pay close attention to whether your German adjective is directly modifying a noun before you decide to change its ending!
How to adjust German adjective endings
Many beginner learners struggle with German adjective endings as they learn how to speak German. This is because there are many potential ways you can adjust the endings of attributive adjectives in German based on the number, grammatical gender, and case of the noun they’re modifying. The act of altering the ending of a German adjective to agree with the noun in this way is called “declension.” It’s similar to German conjugation for verbs in that you’re changing the word to agree with other parts of your sentence.
To “decline” an adjective, take its base form and add the appropriate ending to agree with the noun it’s modifying. When done correctly, this provides the reader or listener with vital context as to which element in your sentence is being described by your adjective, since the German language can be more loosey-goosey with its word order.
German adjective endings with a determiner
In this context, a determiner is a word which specifies which one or what kind of noun exists in the word, such as the German articles and words below:
- der/die/das = the
- jener = that
- welcher = which
- dieser = this
- some German pronouns
Since a determiner already gives the audience grammatical information about the noun being modified, you will only need to add one of the two “weak” German adjective endings: either -e or -en.
To decide which of these two endings to use, consult this handy table:
| German Case | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine | Plural |
| Nominative | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| Accusative | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| Dative | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -en | -en | -en |
See how the German adjective endings change when we introduce and take away the determiner of the sentence.
With a determiner:
- Der kalte Wind weht über das Feld. = The cold wind blows over the field.
- Sie hilft dem kleinen Kind. = She helps the small child.
- Die Preise der neuen Autos sind hoch. = The price of the new cars are high.
Without a determiner:
- Kalter Wind weht über das Feld. = Cold wind blows over the field.
- Sie hilft kleinem Kind. = She helps a small child.
- Die Preise neuer Autos sind hoch. = The prices of new cars are high.
German adjective endings without a determiner
When you don’t have a determiner (like an article) present, then adjective endings in German have to do more of the heavy lifting. The ending you decline onto your German adjective of choice will let the reader or listener know which word you’re modifying and understand important grammatical information about that noun. These are known as “strong” adjective endings in German. Think of it like the adjective taking over the role of the determiner or article with their shiny new ending you’ll give them!
Choose the right ending for your German adjectives without a determiner every time with the chart here:
| German Case | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine | Plural |
| Nominative | -er | -es | -e | -e |
| Accusative | -en | -es | -e | -e |
| Dative | -em | -em | -er | -en |
| Genitive | -en | -en | -er | -er |
You can compare these examples this process in action without determiners:
- Großer Hund bellt laut. = A big dog barks loudly.
- Hund (dog) is a nominative, masculine noun here, so you use the -er suffix
- Ich kaufe frisches Brot. = I am buying fresh bread.
- Brot (bread) is a neuter noun in the accusative case, so the -es ending is most appropriate
- Mit rotem Stift schreibt er den Brief. = He writes the letter with a red pen
- Stift (pen) in this sentence is masculine and shown in the dative case, so you end the adjective in -em.
Forming comparative and superlative German adjectives
When you want to make comparisons about objects or people, you’ll need to form your German adjective into either a comparative or a superlative. A comparative shows that one thing has more of one quality than another thing, while a superlative communicates that something has the absolute most of one quality either in the world or in a given set. For instance, you could say that a grown adult is schneller (faster) than a child, but Usain Bolt is am schnellsten (the fastest) runner in the world.
To form a comparative adjective, just add the suffix -er to your German adjective, just like in English. To take it a step further and create a superlative, you will place the word am (at the) before the adjective and add the suffix -sten to the end. If the base form of your chosen German superlative adjective ends in -t or -d, then you’ll add the suffix -este instead, as in am kälteste (the oldest).
Comparative sentences:
- Dieses Sofa ist bequemer als der Stuhl. = This sofa is more comfortable than the chair.
- bequem (comfortable) + -er = bequemer (more comfortable)
- Deine Idee ist kreativer als meine. = Your idea is more creative than mine.
- kreativ (creative) + -er = kreativer (more creative)
- Dieser Film ist spannender als der andere. = This movie is more exciting than the other one.
- spannend (exciting) + -er = spannender (more exciting)
Superlative sentences:
- Sie singt am schönsten. = She sings the most beautifully
- am (at the) + schön (beautiful) + -sten = am schönsten (most beautiful)
- Am Wochenende bin ich am glücklichsten. = On the weekend, I’m the happiest.
- am (at the) + glücklich (happy) + -sten = am glücklichsten (happiest)
- Dieses Hotel ist am teuersten. = This hotel is the most expensive
- am (at the) + teuer (expensive) + -sten = am teuersten (most expensive)
Moody adjectives in German
Imagine you visit a dear German friend for a cup of tea and they ask you how you’re doing that day. How would you answer? Take an honest look at your emotions and have a look at the chart below to see how you could respond:
| German Mood Adjective | English Translation |
| ängstlich | fearful |
| aufgeregt | excited |
| begeistert | enthusiastic |
| betrübt | sorrowful |
| eifersüchtig | jealous |
| entspannt | relaxed |
| entzückt | delighted |
| euphorisch | euphoric |
| froh | glad |
| fröhlich | joyful |
| glücklich | happy |
| hasserfüllt | hateful |
| mitfühlend | compassionate |
| mitreißend | exhilarating |
| nachdenklich | thoughtful |
| nervös | nervous |
| neugierig | curious |
| optimistisch | optimistic |
| pessimistisch | pessimistic |
| ruhig | calm |
| schüchtern | shy |
| selbstbewusst | confident |
| selig | blissful |
| sensible | sensitive |
| skeptisch | skeptical |
| stolz | proud |
| traurig | sad |
| triumphierend | triumphant |
| verliebt | in love |
| warmherzig | warm-hearted |
| wütend | angry |
Taste and feel with German adjectives
German food is famous around the world, from bratwursts to schnitzel. Unlock your inner foodie and thoroughly explore Germanic cuisine with your loved ones with these German adjectives related to taste and food textures:
| German Taste/Texture Adjective | English Translation |
| bitter | bitter |
| deftig | hearty |
| faserig | fibrous |
| fest | firm |
| feucht | moist |
| fluffig | fluffy |
| frisch | fresh |
| fruchtig | fruity |
| glatt | smooth |
| glutenfrei | gluten-free |
| hart | hard |
| herb | tart |
| klebrig | gooey/sticky |
| knusprig | crispy |
| kohlensäurehaltig | carbonated |
| krümelig | crumbly |
| mild | mild |
| pudrig | powdery |
| rau | rough |
| sahnig | creamy |
| salzig | salty |
| samtig | velvety |
| sauer | sour |
| scharf | sharp (spicy) |
| süß | sweet |
| trocken | dry |
| verrucht | decadent |
| weich | soft |
| zäh | chewy |
| zart | tender |
German adjectives to describe experiences
If you’re planning that magical trip to the mountains of Germany, or anywhere else in the world, choose the right spot with these adjectives as your travel companions:
| German Travel Adjective | English Translation |
| abenteuerlich | adventurous |
| abgelegen | remote |
| abgeschieden | secluded |
| atemberaubend | breathtaking |
| berglastig | mountainous |
| einladend | inviting |
| einzigartig | unique |
| erfrischend | refreshing |
| exotisch | exotic |
| friedlich | tranquil |
| gefährlich | dangerous |
| geheim | secret |
| geschäftig | bustling |
| historisch | historical |
| idyllisch | idyllic |
| kulturell | cultural |
| ländlich | rural |
| langwierig | lengthy |
| lebendig | lively |
| lebensverändernd | life-changing |
| malerisch | picturesque |
| mühsam | arduous |
| ruhig | calm/peaceful |
| spektakulär | spectacular |
| städtisch | urban |
| tropisch | tropical |
| unterhaltsam | entertaining |
| weitläufig | expansive |
| wunderschön | beautiful |
| wüst | desolate/deserted |
Adjectives that describe clothing
Let the fashionista in you shine and let your personality show through your wardrobe with these fashion-forward adjectives in German:
| German Fashion Adjective | English Translation |
| atmungsaktiv | breathable |
| außergewöhnlich | exceptional |
| boho | boho |
| casual | casual |
| dehnbar | stretchable |
| einfaltig | plain/simple |
| elegant | elegant |
| extravagan | extravagant |
| farbig | colorful |
| fließend | flowing |
| formell | formal |
| hipp | hip |
| hippiehaft | hippie-style |
| hochwertig | high-quality |
| klassisch | classic |
| knitterfrei | wrinkle-free |
| lässig | laid-back |
| luftig | airy |
| minimalistisch | minimalist |
| modern | modern |
| modisch | fashionable |
| Pelzig | fuzzy |
| preiswert | affordable |
| schick | chic |
| schmutzabweisend | stain-resistant |
| sportlich | sporty |
| stylisch | stylish |
| teuer | expensive |
| vintage | vintage |
| zeitlos | timeless |
German adjectives to describe people and personalities
Anyone could use a good laugh after studying the different potential German adjective declensions, so lighten up the mood with these adjectives you can use to talk about friends, family, and colleagues.
| Funny German Adjective | English Translation |
| bärenstark | strong (literally, bear-strong) |
| dödelig | dopey/silly |
| duckmäuserisch | coward (literally ducking mouse) |
| haarsträubend | hair-raising |
| hinterfotzig | sneakily malicious (literally, behind cheeky) |
| hitzköpfig | hot-headed |
| hochnäsig | standoffish (literally, high-nosed) |
| hühnerbrüstig | timid (literally, chicken-breasted) |
| hundsgemein | mean (literally, mean as a dog) |
| kaltschnäuzig | callous (literally cold-snouted) |
| kichernd | giggling |
| klamaukig | slapstick |
| kleinkariert | narrow-minded (literally, small-squared) |
| klimbim | frilly |
| kratzbürstig | irritable/rude (literally cat brushy) |
| meschugge | bonkers |
| naschhaft | sweet-toothed/snacky |
| neunmalklug | smart aleck (literally“nine-times smart) |
| schnapsdrosselig | tipsy/slightly drunk |
| schwiegermütterlich | controlling/overbearing (literally, mother-in-law-like) |
| spaßverderblich | killjoy |
| spitzbübisch | childish (literally, pointily boyish) |
| steinalt | very old (literally, stone old) |
| stolpernd | stumbling |
| sturmfrei | home alone |
| superkalifragilistischexpiallegetisch | supercalifragilisticexpialidocious |
| tollpatschig | clumsy/awkward |
| wahnwitzig | crazy yet funny (literally, mania funny) |
| windschief | skewed (literally, wind-warped) |
| wischiwaschi | wishy-washy |
Adjectives to describe people’s qualities
Are you on a nice date and need to talk about yourself? Or in an interview for your dream job and need to describe the qualities that make you the perfect candidate? Keep these German adjectives about personality in your back pocket for when you need them:
| German Personality Adjective | English Translation |
| anerkennend | appreciative |
| anpassungsfähig | adaptable |
| ausdauernd | persistent |
| barsch | curt |
| besonnen | calm/collected |
| chaotisch | chaotic |
| ehrgeizig | ambitious |
| ehrlich | honest |
| einfühlsam | empathetic |
| extrovertiert | extroverted |
| faul | lazy |
| freundlich | kind |
| fühllos | insensitive |
| fühlsam | sensitive |
| geduldig | patient |
| gutmütig | good-natured |
| intelligent | intelligent |
| introvertiert | introverted |
| kreativ | creative |
| leidenschaftlich | passionate/ardent |
| nachdenklich | thoughtful |
| neurotisch | neurotic |
| respektvoll | respectful |
| schwatzhaft | talkative |
| selbstständig | independent |
| spontan | spontaneous |
| tüchtig | capable/hardworking |
| ungeduldig | impatient |
| verschwiegen | discreet |
| vorlaut | outspoken |
Reporting the weather through German adjectives
Few things are more practical for planning out your day on vacation or at work in Germany than knowing the weather, so get accustomed to these words so you’re not left out in the rain:
| German Weather Adjective | English Translation |
| bedeckt | overcast |
| bewölkt | cloudy |
| dunstig | misty |
| düster | murky |
| eisig | icy |
| finster | gloomy |
| friert | freezing |
| frostig | frosty |
| gewitterig | thunderous |
| heiß | hot |
| kalt | cold |
| klar | clear (sky) |
| nass | wet |
| neblig | foggy |
| nieselnd | drizzly |
| regnerisch | rainy |
| saharagleich | desert-like |
| schlammig | muddy |
| schneereich | snowy |
| schwül | humid/muggy |
| sonnig | sunny |
| staubig | dusty |
| stürmisch | stormy |
| taufrisch | dewy |
| trüb | hazy |
| turbulent | turbulent |
| verregnet | rain-swept |
| wackelig | unstable |
| warm | warm |
| windig | windy |
Adjectives to express time
You don’t need a time machine to travel through time with these temporal German adjectives:
| German Time Adjective | English Translation |
| dauerhaft | permanent |
| fristgerecht | timely |
| früh | early |
| futuristisch | futuristic |
| gegenwärtig | present/at the moment |
| gleichzeitig | simultaneous |
| historisch | historical |
| immerwährend | perpetual |
| kurzfristig | short-term |
| langfristig | long-term |
| nachträglich | subsequent |
| prähistorisch | prehistoric |
| punktgenau | exact |
| pünktlich | punctual |
| regelmäßig | regular |
| spat | late |
| sporadisch | sporadic |
| unaufhörlich | unceasing |
| unmittelbar | imminently |
| verfrüht | premature |
| vergangen | past |
| verzögert | delayed |
| vorübergehend | temporary |
| wiederkehrend | recurring |
| zeitabhängig | time-dependent |
| zeitaufwendig | time-consuming |
| zeitgebunden | time-bound |
| zeitlich | temporal |
| zeitlos | timeless |
| zeitnah | soon |
German adjectives for love and romance
If you ever find yourself at a loss of words for the depth of emotion your loved one brings out of you, have a look at the chart below for adjectives that inspire romance and communicate “I love you” in German:
| German Romance Adjective | English Translation |
| abgöttisch | idolatrous |
| anmutig | graceful |
| aufopferungsvoll | self-sacrificing |
| beschützend | protective |
| bewundernswert | admirable |
| feurig | fiery |
| flirtend | flirty |
| herzlich | heartfelt |
| kitschig | cheesy/tacky |
| lebensfroh | fun-loving |
| lebenslang | lifelong |
| liebesbedürftig | in need of love |
| liebevoll | loving |
| liebreizend | charming |
| mitfühlend | compassionate |
| mitreißend | captivating |
| reuevoll | remorseful |
| romantisch | romantic |
| schmachtend | yearning |
| seelenverwandt | congenial |
| traulich | intimate |
| treu | loyal |
| umarmend | embracing |
| umwerfend | stunning/drop-dead |
| unvergesslich | unforgettable |
| verführerisch | seductive |
| verschmust | cuddly |
| verwundbar | vulnerable |
| verzaubert | enchanted |
| zuckersüß | sweet as sugar |
Adjectives that explain shapes
Appreciate the rich architectural history in Germany and describe the shape of the world around you with German adjectives:
| German Shape Adjective | English Translation |
| asymmetrisch | asymmetrical |
| breit | wide |
| dick | thick |
| dreieckig | triangular |
| dünn | thin |
| eckig | angular/square |
| flach | flat |
| gebogen | bent |
| geformt | shaped |
| gekrümmt | curved |
| geometrisch | geometric |
| gerade | straight |
| gewölbt | vaulted/arched |
| hoch | tall |
| kantig | edgy |
| kegelförmig | conical |
| krumm | bent/crooked |
| kugelförmig | spherical |
| niedrig | low |
| proportioniert | proportionate |
| quaderförmig | cuboid |
| rechteckig | rectangular |
| rund | round |
| schmal | narrow |
| spitz | sharp/pointed |
| stumpf | dull |
| symmetrisch | symmetrical |
| verdreht | twisted |
| wellig | wavy |
| zylindrisch | cylindrical |
Frequently asked questions about German adjectives
Clarify some loose ends and wonder no more. Here are the three most frequently asked questions about adjectives in German
Are adjectives and adverbs the same in German?
No, adjectives and adverbs are not necessarily the same in German. While adjectives are used to describe nouns in a sentence, adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adjectives will also sometimes decline their ending to agree with the noun they’re modifying, but German adverbs do not decline.
Do German adjectives always require an ending?
No, German adjectives do not always require an ending. Attributive German adjectives that come directly before the noun they’re modifying always require a specific ending to agree with that noun. However, predicative and adverbial adjectives in German never require a special ending since they don’t directly modify a noun.
Which part of a compound noun does an adjective agree with?
German adjectives will change their ending to agree with the last part of a compound noun in terms of number, grammatical gender, and case. For example, with the phrase der neue Haustürschlüssel (the new house key), the adjective neu (new) adds the suffix -e to agree with schlüssel (key) rather than agreeing with Haus (house), for example, which is a neuter noun.
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