Stress caused by drought is one of the most significant abiotic stresses in agricultural production. Due to climate change, drought is becoming more frequent and is considered a key factor limiting crop yields. Lack of water can seriously affect plant growth by affecting numerous physiological and biochemical parameters. Legumes are plants that belong to the Fabaceae family and have been a key source of nutrition for humans since ancient times. Therefore, their research is extremely important, not only because of their nutritional value, but also because of their role in sustainable agriculture. The aim of this research was to examine the adaptive response of five different legume species: faba bean (Vicia faba L.), cultivated pea (Pisum sativum L.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) to short-term drought conditions. Treatments included control and drought, and measurements were made on the third and sixth days of drought. The research measured chlorophyll concentration, soil conductivity, relative water content, and NDVI, PRI and FRI vegetation indices. Drought stress caused a significant increase in the concentration of chlorophyll in chickpea, while the stomatal conducance and relative water content were significantly reduced in all tested legume species. Drought significantly reduced NDVI in pea, while the FRI index significantly increased in all legume species. The PRI index was significantly reduced in faba bean already on the third day of drought. This research provides better insight into the adaptive mechanisms that different legume variety use to cope with drought stress, which may help develop more drought-tolerant plants.