German Adjective Order: Arranging Multiple Adjectives Before a Noun
Learn the usual order of multiple adjectives before a German noun, such as opinion, size, age, and color, with clear examples and practice.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In German, when you use more than one adjective before a noun, the adjectives follow a predictable order. This order is similar to English but not identical. Typically, opinion adjectives come first, then size, age, and color, followed by material and origin. For example, 'ein schöner kleiner alter Holztisch' means 'a lovely small old wooden table'. In this lesson, you will learn the standard sequence and how to apply it correctly.
By the end, you can…
- list the usual order of multiple adjectives before a German noun.
- construct simple noun phrases with two or three adjectives in the correct order.
- identify and correct common ordering mistakes in German.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
ein schöner kleiner alter Holztisch
a lovely small old wooden table
ine SHUR-ner KLY-ner AL-ter HOLTS-tish
Demonstrates opinion, size, age, and material in order.
eine teure große neue rote Tasche
an expensive large new red bag
INE-uh TOY-ruh GROH-suh NOY-uh ROH-tuh TASH-uh
Shows opinion, size, age, and color.
der nette junge deutsche Lehrer
the nice young German teacher
dair NET-tuh YUNG-uh DOY-chuh LAY-rer
Opinion, age, and origin.
das kleine runde hölzerne Tablett
the small round wooden tray
dahs KLY-nuh RUN-duh HUL-tser-nuh tah-BLET
Size, shape, and material.
ein interessantes altes italienisches Gemälde
an interesting old Italian painting
ine in-ter-es-SAN-tes AL-tes ee-tal-YAY-nish-es guh-MEL-duh
Opinion, age, and origin.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The usual order is: opinion (e.g., schön, nett), size (groß, klein), age (alt, neu), shape (rund, eckig), color (rot, blau), origin (deutsch, italienisch), material (hölzern, metallen), and purpose. For example, 'ein schöner großer alter runder roter italienischer hölzerner Tisch' is extreme but shows the full sequence. In practice, two or three adjectives are common: 'ein schöner kleiner alter Tisch'. Note that adjectives before a noun take endings based on the article and gender: 'ein kleiner Tisch', 'eine kleine Tasche', 'das kleine Kind'.
When to use it
Use this order when you want to describe a noun with multiple adjectives. It helps avoid confusion and sounds natural. For instance, 'eine kleine alte Dame' (a small old lady) is correct, while 'eine alte kleine Dame' sounds odd. Remember that adjectives before a noun take endings based on the article and gender: 'ein kleiner Tisch', 'eine kleine Tasche', 'das kleine Kind'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ich suche einen schönen kleinen alten Holztisch.
I am looking for a lovely small old wooden table.ikh ZOO-khuh INE-en SHUR-nen KLY-nen AL-ten HOLTS-tishWie wäre es mit diesem teuren großen neuen roten Tisch?
How about this expensive large new red table?vee VAY-ruh es mit DEE-zem TOY-ren GROH-sen NOY-en ROH-ten TISHDer ist zu groß. Ich möchte lieber einen kleinen runden hölzernen Tisch.
That one is too big. I would rather have a small round wooden table.dair ist tsoo grohs. ikh MURKH-tuh LEE-ber INE-en KLY-nen RUN-den HUL-tser-nen TISHDann nimm diesen interessanten alten italienischen Tisch.
Then take this interesting old Italian table.dahn nim DEE-zen in-ter-es-SAN-ten AL-ten ee-tal-YAY-nish-en TISHA little context goes a long way
In German, adjective order is more flexible than in English, but the sequence opinion, size, age, color, origin, material is a reliable guide. In southern Germany and Austria, 'hölzern' is often replaced by 'aus Holz' (of wood), e.g., 'ein Tisch aus Holz'. Standard German uses 'hölzern' as an adjective.
One thing to watch for
Putting color before opinion, as in 'ein roter schöner Tisch'.
Try this instead: Opinion usually comes first: 'ein schöner roter Tisch'. However, if you want to emphasize the color, you might say 'ein roter, schöner Tisch' with a comma, but this is less common.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Arrange the adjectives in the correct order: alt, schön, klein (before 'Tisch').
Show a sample answer
ein schöner kleiner alter Tisch
Opinion (schön) comes first, then size (klein), then age (alt). The adjective endings are -er, -er, -er because of the indefinite article 'ein' and masculine noun 'Tisch'.
2Which is correct: 'eine neue große Tasche' or 'eine große neue Tasche'?
Show a sample answer
eine große neue Tasche
Size (groß) comes before age (neu). So 'große neue' is correct. The alternative 'neue große' would emphasize newness, but is less standard.
3Translate: 'a nice young German teacher' (der Lehrer).
Show a sample answer
ein netter junger deutscher Lehrer
Opinion (nett), age (jung), origin (deutsch) in order. Endings: -er for all because of 'ein' and masculine.
Remember the order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material. Practice with two or three adjectives to sound natural in German.
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