Language/Sundanese/Grammar/Adjectives
Hi Sundanese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Sundanese adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns. You can use them to add more detail and color to your sentences.
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Pronouns, Give your Opinion & Plurals.
Basic Adjectives[edit | edit source]
There are many adjectives you can use in Sundanese, but let's start with some basic ones:
| Sundanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| résep | ɾesep | delicious |
| nganék | ŋanek | cold |
| panasinan | panasinan | warm |
| lééng | leːŋ | sweet |
To use these adjectives in a sentence, simply add them after the noun they modify. For example:
- anu résep (delicious food)
- tas nganék (cold water)
- kopi panasinan (warm coffee)
- cai lééng (sweet tea)
Let's practice with some common adjectives you might use in everyday conversation:
| Sundanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dangu | daŋgu | big |
| cilaka | t͡ʃilaka | small |
| inget | iŋɡet | hot |
| wilujeng | wilud͡ʒeŋ | happy |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: sapatos dangu (big shoes)
- Person 2: eu geus nyiarkeun ukuranna? (did you already check their size?)
- Person 1: shampo cilaka (small shampoo)
- Person 2: tapi loba dijual sakedap sareng harga tina sapertosna (but many are sold in packages with the same price)
- Person 1: air inget (hot water)
- Person 2: sagala teh jadi inget sanggeus diwangun (all tea becomes hot after steeping)
- Person 1: beuki wilujeng (happy child)
- Person 2: atuh geus diwangun satunggal, geus ngomong sareng loba orang. (yes, they were born as a happy child, always talking to many people.)
Don't be afraid to experiment with these adjectives and create your own sentences! It will help you increase your vocabulary and improve your Sundanese skills.
Adjective Agreement[edit | edit source]
In Sundanese, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in number and gender. Here are some examples:
| Sundanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| gaduh umur téh | ɡaduh umur tɛh | old person (masculine) |
| gaduh umur réa | ɡaduh umur ɾɛa | old person (feminine) |
| mobil éta bérek hiji | mobil eta berɛk hid͡ʒi | this car is red (singular) |
| mobil eta bérek dua | mobil eta berɛk dua | these cars are red (plural) |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: saung téh geus jadi rusak. (this house is already ruined)
- Person 2: tumbu matoa nu beda ukuran sakedap anu naik turun di sakola dumasar. (the mango tree with different sizes up and down from the school)
- Person 1: kahayang salira ngalaman teu loba. (his/her knowledge is not much)
- Person 2: padidi bisa anjing sokheun, téh mah ngalaman naon?. (even a dog can jump, what knowledge is that?)
Make sure your adjectives match the noun they describe. It might take some getting used to, but it will make your Sundanese sound more natural and fluent.
Comparison of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Sundanese, we can also compare adjectives using the words "leuwih" (more) and "salaku" (as...as). Here are some examples:
| Sundanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| luhur leuwih baik dibanding handap | luhur lewih baik dibandiŋ handap | higher is better than lower |
| nganék salaku adik panasinan salaku kakak | ŋanek salaku adik panasinan salaku kakak | cold as younger sibling, warm as older sibling |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: bisi hirup nganék leuwih nyaman pikeun panas (breathing cold air is more comfortable than hot)
- Person 2: ey, eu aya seurupa paper jeung rékaman stroke ku baé. (oh, there's a similar paper and recording about stroke management)
- Person 1: handap mah suhu ajin panasinan, naniku keur di pondok. (lower temperature is preferred than warm, for me it is for staying at the cottage)
- Person 2: taya rupa téa salaku téa Pagilaran ditampi ka kolamé. (no tea is as good as the tea in Pagilaran, near the pond.)
These are just a few examples. You can compare any adjectives you want using these words, so feel free to get creative!
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Learning adjectives is an important part of mastering the Sundanese language. Adjectives help you provide more descriptive detail and color to your sentences, and they make your language more engaging and expressive.
To improve your Sundanese Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Say Hello and Greetings in Sundanese, Conditional Mood & How to Use Be.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]