Want to sound more fluent in Spanish? Mastering irregular comparatives and superlatives is a great way to level up your language skills! While most Spanish adjectives follow a regular pattern, a few important ones have their own special forms. Let’s break them down so you can use them like a pro.
Comparatives vs. Superlatives: A Quick Refresher
- Comparatives are used to compare two things. (e.g., “This car is faster than that one.”)
- Superlatives express the highest degree of a quality. (e.g., “This is the fastest car.”)
The “Irregular Gang”
These four common adjectives have unique comparative and superlative forms:
bueno(good)malo(bad)grande(big)pequeño(small)
Meet the Irregulars
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative (Masculine) | Superlative (Feminine) |
|---|---|---|---|
bueno (good) | mejor (better) | el mejor (the best) | la mejor (the best) |
malo (bad) | peor (worse) | el peor (the worst) | la peor (the worst) |
grande (big) | mayor (bigger, older) | el mayor (the biggest, the oldest) | la mayor (the biggest, the oldest) |
pequeño (small) | menor (smaller, younger) | el menor (the smallest, the youngest) | la menor (the smallest, the youngest) |
Let’s Use Them!
Here are some examples to see these irregulars in action:
Este libro es bueno, pero aquel es mejor.(This book is good, but that one is better.)Ella es la mejor cantante del mundo.(She’s the best singer in the world.)Hoy me siento peor que ayer.(Today I feel worse than yesterday.)Esa fue la peor experiencia de mi vida.(That was the worst experience of my life.)Mi hermano es mayor que yo.(My brother is older than me.)El elefante es el animal más grande de la selva.(The elephant is the biggest animal in the jungle.)Mi hermana es menor que yo.(My sister is younger than me.)El ratón es uno de los animales más pequeños.(The mouse is one of the smallest animals.)
A Few Tips
- Context is key!
Mayorandmenorcan mean “bigger/smaller” OR “older/younger” depending on the situation. - Agreement matters: Make sure the superlative agrees with the noun it describes (e.g.,
el mejor amigo,la mejor amiga) - To avoid confusion: If you want to be extra clear about size, you can use
más grandeandmás pequeño.
¡A practicar!
Now it’s time to practice! Try making your own sentences using these irregular comparatives and superlatives. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll become. And remember, ¡la práctica hace al maestro! (Practice makes perfect!)