Learn how to use Spanish comparatives and superlative

By Lingobi, Published on 08/22/2025

One of the most practical parts of Spanish grammar is learning how to compare things and describe them at their highest or lowest degree. Whether you want to say someone is smarter, faster, or the most talented, comparatives and superlatives give you the tools to do it naturally in Spanish.

Comparatives in Spanish

Comparatives are used to show differences between two people, things, or ideas. In English, we say “taller,” “more intelligent,” or “less expensive.” In Spanish, there are clear structures for this.

Más + adjective + que → more ... than

Menos + adjective + que → less ... than

Tan + adjective + como → as ... as

Examples:

Ella es más alta que su hermano. (She is taller than her brother.)

Este libro es menos interesante que el otro. (This book is less interesting than the other one.)

Tu casa es tan grande como la mía. (Your house is as big as mine.)

Superlatives in Spanish

Superlatives are used to say something is the most or the least of all. In English, we say “the smartest,” “the most beautiful,” or “the least expensive.” Spanish uses the following structure:

El/La/Los/Las + más/menos + adjective + de

Examples:

Juan es el más inteligente de la clase. (Juan is the smartest in the class.)

María es la menos simpática de todas. (María is the least nice of all.)

Absolute Superlatives

Spanish also has absolute superlatives, which don’t compare but emphasize to an extreme. Instead of saying “very good,” you can say “extremely good.” This is formed with the suffix -ísimo/-ísima.

Bueno → Buenísimo (extremely good)

Interesante → Interesantísimo (extremely interesting)

Fácil → Facilísimo (extremely easy)

Why This Matters

When you’re learning Spanish, mastering comparatives and superlatives helps you sound more natural. These forms allow you to describe people, places, and things in greater detail—making your conversations richer and more engaging.

Practice Tip

Try describing your friends, favorite foods, or cities using comparatives and superlatives. For example: “Barcelona es más grande que Valencia, pero Madrid es la ciudad más grande de todas.”

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