Superlative forms

Es el mejor regalo

In case you don’t know, superlative are the forms like the best, the cheapest, the most beautiful, etc.

In Spanish they are quite simple. They are based on the comparative forms, which were mentioned in the previous lesson.

To transform an adjective into the superlative form, you should simply use a determined article before más.

el más caro – the most expensive

los más baratos – the cheapest ones

la más bonita – the most beautiful

Esta moto es la más rápida — This motorbike is the fastest one

Estos alumnos son los más atentos — These pupils are the most attentive ones

Try not to confuse comparative and superlative forms.

Esta casa es más alta — This house is higher

Esta casa es la más alta — This house is the highest one

The words that have their own forms, are also turned to the superlative form using a determined article.

Esta película es la mejor – This film is the best

Mi composición es la peor – My composition is the worst

Try it yourself:

This shop is the biggest one in the town

My country is the biggest in Europe

These games are the most interesting ones

My parents are the best

Menos can be used with a determined article, as well. It means the least.

Este actor es el menos famoso de los tres – This actor is the least famous of the three

de – of

Use the de preposition to select one object from a collection.

Su voz es la más bonita del mundo — Her voice is the most beautiful in the world

Roberto es el más fuerte de todos — Roberto is the strongest of all

Mi tío es el más rico de la ciudad — My uncle is the richest man of the city

Try it yourself:

Pablo is the smartest of us

I’m the youngest of the two

This city is the poorest of all

It’s a bit trickier when it comes to the combination noun + adjective. As you know, most of the times Spanish adjectives appear after nouns.

This is the pattern, that should be applied in this case:

article + noun + más + adjective

la flor más bonita – the most beautiful flower

el libro más interesante – the most interesting book

Ésta es la calle más larga de la ciudad — This is the longest street in the city

Julia es la chica más alegre del colegio — Julia is the most joyful girl at school

La Sagrada Familia es el templo más conocido en Barcelona — The Sagrada Familia is the most known temple in Barcelona

The words mejor and peor are traditionally placed before a noun.

Cristiano Ronaldo es el mejor futbolista del año — Cristiano Ronaldo is the best football player of the year

Éste es el peor grupo que conozco — This is the worst band that I know

Try it yourself:

Maria is the most beautiful girl that I know

Lamborghini is the fastest car

The most famous actors in the world are at this concert

This is it. Now you know how to compare objects in Spanish and describe them with adjectives in superlative form.