Wondering how to make comparisons in Spanish? Here’s a real life example:
The other day, my Spanish-speaking husband and I were discussing the idea of giving our apartment a little makeover.
The couch we have is too old and too shabby to keep. Besides, we need something bigger and comfier – the whole family loves to lounge there.
Our fridge is simply too small, we need something way more spacious, hopefully with a larger freezer.
The last thing we are evaluating is repainting the master bedroom – the biggest one in our apartment. I would love to replace the dull creamy color with something brighter, like canary green…
Why am I telling you all that?
First of all, to draw your attention to adjectives as part of speech and show you how useful they are in everyday situations.
Also, to stress the importance of adjectives when trying to compare things.
If you are a native English speaker, you use various adjective forms without thinking.
But would you know how to do the same in Spanish?
How comfortable do you feel about making comparisons with Spanish adjectives?
Comparisons in Spanish – The Key Information
Here’s a brief summary of the must-know comparison rules in Spanish:
- The comparative form of an adjective is obtained by adding the word “más” or “menos” before the adjective:
🇪🇸 Pedro es más alto que Juan.
🇬🇧 Pedro is taller than Juan.
🇪🇸 Un anillo de plata es menos caro que un anillo de oro.
🇬🇧 A silver ring is less expensive than a gold ring.
- The superlative form of an adjective is obtained by adding the correct article (el, la, los, or las) and the word “ más” or “menos” before the adjective:
🇪🇸 Pedro es el más alto de todos sus primos.
🇬🇧 Pedro is the tallest among his cousins.
🇪🇸 El Salvador es el país menos seguro de Sudamérica.
🇬🇧 El Salvador is the least safe country in South America.
- When comparing two things on the same level use the expression: “ tan…como”:
🇪🇸 Este departamento es tan bonito como el otro.
🇬🇧 This apartment is as pretty as the other one.
- An excessive level of a certain quality is expressed with the word “demasiado”:
🇪🇸 La sartén aún está demasiado caliente para que lo toques.
🇬🇧 The pan is still too hot for you to touch.
- The sufficient level requires the use of “lo suficientemente”.
🇪🇸 Este juguete es lo suficientemente seguro para un niño de 2 años.
🇬🇧 This toy is safe enough for a 2-year-old.
Of course, whenever you use adjectives in Spanish, you have to remember that they normally go AFTER the noun and not before, like in English.
Also, don’t forget about the necessary gender and number agreement.
What that means, in simple terms, is that each time you use an adjective together with a noun, you have to adjust its form to that noun.
If your noun is feminine, make your adjective feminine too.
If your noun is plural, don’t forget to pluralize the adjective.
The Comparative Form of Spanish Adjectives
Most of you will probably agree that Spanish grammar tends to be harder than English.
🇪🇸 Test Your Spanish Knowledge 🇪🇸
However, when it comes to making comparisons, it is quite the opposite.
See for yourself:
🇪🇸 Emilia es más baja que Laura.
🇬🇧 Emilia is shorter than Laura.
🇪🇸 Los zapatos de cuero son más caros que los sintéticos.
🇬🇧 Leather shoes are more expensive than synthetic ones.
Why on earth do you say tallER but not expensivER? Can anyone explain that?
Spanish is way more consistent there. It’s always going to add MÁS (more) or MENOS (less) no matter what adjective you use.
🇪🇸 Este vuelo es un poco más barato, pero mucho más largo que el otro.
🇬🇧 This flight is a little cheaper but much longer than the other one.
🇪🇸 Este departamento tiene un precio más conveniente y es menos frío que el que vimos ayer.
🇬🇧 This apartment has a more convenient price and is less cold than the one we saw yesterday.
🇪🇸 Santiago es más peligroso de noche que de día.
🇬🇧 Santiago is more dangerous at night than during the day.
🇪🇸 Este abrigo es más suave, pero el otro era más práctico.
🇬🇧 This coat is softer, but the other one was more practical.
🇪🇸 El nuevo profesor de matemáticas es menos estricto que el anterior.
🇬🇧 The new math teacher is less strict than the previous one.
See, the comparative pattern in Spanish never changes!
Except for the exceptions 😉
Which – by the way – are the same as in English:
bueno (good) changes to mejor (better)
malo (bad) changes to peor (worse)
just like in the sentences below:
🇪🇸 El café colombiano es mejor que el café brasileño.
🇬🇧 Colombian coffee is better than Brazilian coffee.
🇪🇸 Hoy mi resfrío está peor que ayer.
🇬🇧 Today my cold is worse than yesterday.
Superlative Form of Spanish Adjectives
The superlative?
That’s right. It is when you compare more than 2 people, objects, places, or ideas and pick the one with the highest level of a certain quality.
For instance:
🇪🇸 Tokio es la ciudad más grande del mundo.
🇬🇧 Tokyo is the biggest city in the world.
🇪🇸 El Nilo es el río más largo.
🇬🇧 The Nile is the longest river.
🇪🇸 El Ferrari 250 GTO de 1963 es el coche más caro en los rankings de este año.
🇬🇧 The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO is the most expensive car in this year’s rankings.
🇪🇸 De acuerdo a las estadísticas de este mes, Hugo fue el trabajador menos eficiente.
🇬🇧 According to this month’s statistics, Hugo was the least efficient worker.
🇪🇸 Julio es el mes más lluvioso en Chile.
🇬🇧 July is the rainiest month in Chile.
🇪🇸 Isla de Pascua es uno de los lugares más remotos del mundo.
🇬🇧 Easter Island is one of the world’s most remote places.
Again, English adjectives look as fickle in the superlative form as they did in comparative.
Some of them add the -EST ending, while others use the pre-word “THE MOST”.
Meanwhile, the Spanish ones remain as cool as a cucumber, relying entirely on the words MÁS and MENOS with the correct definite article (el, la, los, or las).
Exceptions?
Yes, thank you for asking. Only “good” and “bad”, just like in the comparative form.
bueno (good) becomes el / la / los / las mejor(es) (the best)
malo (bad) becomes el / la / los / las peor(es) (the worst)
Here’s how you can use them:
🇪🇸 Fue el peor día de mi vida.
🇬🇧 It was the worst day of my life.
🇪🇸 ¿Quién es la mejor actriz, en tu opinión?
🇬🇧 Who’s the best actress, in your opinion?
🇪🇸 Susana y yo somos las peores bailarinas que existen.
🇬🇧 Susana and I are the worst dancers ever.
🇪🇸 Juan y Pedro son los mejores amigos de mi hermano.
🇬🇧 Juan and Pedro are my brother’s best friends.
Comparisons in Spanish – Other Useful Expressions
Spanish comparatives and superlatives are not the only options you have. There are several other interesting and very useful possibilities.
TAN…COMO… = AS…AS…
Sometimes, the comparison occurs at the level of equality.
People can have the same age or height.
Products can have the same price.
Two books can be equally interesting.
This is when the expression TAN…COMO...comes in handy.
Remember, you can also use it, when the level of quality you are describing is not the same, by simply adding the Spanish negative words NO.
🇪🇸 Español es casi tan útil como inglés.
🇬🇧 Spanish is almost as useful as English.
🇪🇸 Me gustaría que mi hijo fuera tan estudioso como el tuyo.
🇬🇧 I’d like my son to be as studious as yours.
🇪🇸 La casa no es tan grande como me la imaginaba.
🇬🇧 The house is not as big as I imagined.
🇪🇸 Miradas desde el avión, las personas parecen tan pequeñas como las hormigas.
🇬🇧 Seen from the plane, people seem as small as ants.
🇪🇸 El restaurante no fue tan bueno como decían las críticas.
🇬🇧 The restaurant was not as good as the critics said.
🇪🇸 Este medicamento es tan efectivo como el que le recetó el doctor, pero cuesta la mitad.
🇬🇧 This medicine is as effective as the one your doctor’s prescribed, but it costs half the price.
If building your money-related vocabulary in Spanish sounds like a good idea, feel invited to read my posts on shopping and business.
DEMASIADO = TOO
This word is excellent to talk about excessive qualities.
Have a look at how to use it in everyday situations:
🇪🇸 Esta chaqueta está demasiado desgastada para esta ocasión.
🇬🇧 This jacket is too shabby for this occasion.
🇪🇸 El lago está demasiado frío para nadar.
🇬🇧 The lake is too cold for swimming.
🇪🇸 Viajar en primera clase sale demasiado caro para nosotros.
🇬🇧 Traveling first class is too expensive for us.
🇪🇸 Esta caja está demasiado pesada para que la levantes.
🇬🇧 This box is too heavy for you to lift.
🇪🇸 Me siento demasiado cansada para manejar.
🇬🇧 I feel too tired to drive.
🇪🇸 Espero que no sea demasiado complicado para tí.
🇬🇧 I hope it is not too difficult for you.
LO SUFICIENTEMENTE = ENOUGH
Last but not least, comparisons in Spanish may concern a sufficient (or insufficient) level of a certain quality.
🇪🇸 No soy lo suficientemente alto para alcanzar esta repisa.
🇬🇧 I am not tall enough to reach this shelf.
🇪🇸 Creo que las papás aún no están lo suficientemente cocidas.
🇬🇧 I think the potatoes are not cooked enough, yet.
🇪🇸 No me siento lo suficientemente segura para dar el examen de conducir hoy.
🇬🇧 I don’t feel confident enough to do the driving test today.
🇪🇸 Tu español es lo suficientemente bueno para que te hagas cargo del mercado latinoamericano.
🇬🇧 Your Spanish is good enough for you to take charge of the Latin American market.
🇪🇸 ¿Crees que la cama será lo suficientemente cómoda para tu abuela?
🇬🇧 Do you think the bed is going to be comfortable enough for your grandma?
Speaking of grandma, how confident do you feel talking about family members in Spanish?
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If you think you need to practice Spanish comparisons some more, you can try the following exercises:
- Think of two people you know and how they are different / similar.
- Think of the city / town you live in. What is it that you don’t like about it? Is it too polluted? Or perhaps it isn’t green enough? Try to come up with more ideas like these.
