Describe a horizontal translation as the shifting of the entire graph of the function side to side as if it were on a train track. You can describe a vertical translation similarly as if the graph of the function was moving up and down like a flag on a flagpole.
Describe a change in amplitude as a stretching or compressing of the graph of the function as if the function were a springy toy that you could either stretch upwards or compress downwards. You can describe a change in scale similarly as if the springy toy were oriented horizontally this time so it could be either stretched wider or compressed tighter.
Describe a reflection of the graph as if it were a mirror, in which your left hand looks like your right hand and vice versa. When you change the sign of the x factor, this puts a mirror on the y axis and vice versa if you change the sign of the y factor.