Comparisons in Spanish
To compare in Spanish, you need only a few small words: más, menos, tan, tanto, que, and como. A handful of irregular forms, such as mejor and peor, complete the picture.
Quick answer
- More or less than: más alto que, menos caro que
- As … as: tan alto como, tantos libros como
- Irregular: mejor (better), peor (worse), mayor (older), menor (younger)
More than and less than
Use más … que (more than) and menos … que (less than). Put the adjective, adverb, or noun in the middle.
Examples
- Mi hermano es más alto que yo.My brother is taller than me.Más plus adjective plus que.
- Este libro es menos caro que ese.This book is cheaper than that one.Menos plus adjective plus que.
- Trabajo más que tú.I work more than you.Verb plus más que.
- Tengo más amigos que ella.I have more friends than she does.Más plus noun plus que.
Equal comparisons: tan como and tanto como
Use tan … como with adjectives and adverbs, and tanto … como with nouns and verbs. Tanto changes with the noun: tantos libros, tantas personas.
Examples
- Ana es tan alta como su madre.Ana is as tall as her mother.Tan plus adjective plus como.
- Tengo tantos libros como tú.I have as many books as you.Tantos agrees with libros.
- No como tanto como antes.I do not eat as much as before.Tanto after a verb does not change.
- Habla tan rápido como un locutor.He speaks as fast as an announcer.Tan plus adverb.
Irregular comparisons
Four comparatives are irregular: bueno → mejor, malo → peor, grande → mayor (older), and pequeño → menor (younger). They have no más.
| Adjective | Comparative |
|---|---|
| bueno / bien | mejor |
| malo / mal | peor |
| grande (age) | mayor |
| pequeño (age) | menor |
Examples
- Este restaurante es mejor que el otro.This restaurant is better than the other.Mejor.
- Hoy me siento peor que ayer.I feel worse today than yesterday.Peor.
- Mi hermana es mayor que yo.My sister is older than me.Mayor for age.
- Tengo un hermano menor.I have a younger brother.Menor.
The superlative: el más, la menos
To say “the most” or “the least,” add the article before más or menos. To say “of” a group, use de: el más alto de la clase (the tallest in the class).
Examples
- Es la ciudad más grande del país.It is the biggest city in the country.La más plus de.
- Este es el libro menos interesante.This is the least interesting book.El menos.
- Ella es la mejor de la clase.She is the best in the class.La mejor.
Spanish around the world
- In some regions, people say más mejor or más peor in casual speech. It is not standard Spanish, so use mejor and peor in writing and with learners.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Mi hermano es más alto de yo.
Correct: Mi hermano es más alto que yo.
Use que, not de, after más.
Incorrect: Es más bueno que el otro.
Correct: Es mejor que el otro.
Bueno has an irregular comparative.
Incorrect: Tengo tan libros como tú.
Correct: Tengo tantos libros como tú.
Use tanto with nouns.
Incorrect: Ella es tanta alta como yo.
Correct: Ella es tan alta como yo.
Use tan with adjectives.
Remember the pattern
- más/menos + adjective + que for unequal comparisons.
- tan + adjective + como and tanto + noun + como for equal ones.
- Four irregular forms: mejor, peor, mayor, menor.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
When do I use que and when do I use de?
Use que in comparisons between two things. Use de before numbers: más de diez personas.
How do I say ‘the best’?
el mejor or la mejor. Es la mejor de todas.
Is ‘mayor’ always older?
In comparisons, yes. Mayor can also mean “greater” in formal contexts.
What is the difference between tan and tanto?
Tan goes before adjectives and adverbs. Tanto goes before nouns and after verbs.
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