In Arabic, when you use a comparative adjective with the word "than" (like أكبر من), the adjective stays in its default masculine singular form. However, when you add the definite article أل to create a superlative meaning "the most" or "the -est", it acts as a normal adjective and must agree with the noun it describes in gender and number.
Feminine Definite Superlatives
To make a superlative agree with a feminine noun, you cannot simply add the feminine ending ة. Instead, feminine superlatives follow a completely different pattern: الفُعْلى.
For example, "the biggest" becomes الكبرى, "the smallest" becomes الصغرى, and "the highest" becomes العليا.
| The buyer bought the biggest villa in the city. | اشترى المشتري الفيلا الكبرى في المدينة.ishtarâ al-mushtari al-fîlâ al-kubrâ fi al-madînah |
| The smallest garden has a beautiful view. | الحديقة الصغرى لها إطلالة جميلة.al-hadîqatu s-sughrâ lahâ itlâlatun jamîlatun |
| The highest balcony overlooks the sea. | الشرفة العليا تطل على البحر.ash-shurfatul-'ulyâ tutillu 'alâ al-bahr |
Masculine Definite Superlatives
When describing a masculine noun, the superlative follows the standard الأَفْعَل pattern. Notice how the word endings adapt slightly depending on the root letters, such as الأعلى (the highest) and الأغلى (the most expensive).
| I wanted to rent the highest floor. | أردت أن أستأجر الطابق الأعلى.aradtu an asta'jira at-tâbiqa al-a'lâ |
| This is the most expensive palace in the market. | هذا هو القصر الأغلى في السوق.hâdhâ huwa al-qasru al-aghlâ fî as-sûq |
| The biggest pool is more expensive than the smallest pool. | المسبح الأكبر أغلى من المسبح الأصغر.al-masbah al-akbar aghlâ min al-masbah al-asghar |
Non-Human Plurals
Remember the golden rule of Arabic grammar: non-human plurals are treated grammatically as feminine singular. Because definite superlatives must agree with the noun they modify, a non-human plural noun will take the feminine singular الفُعْلى pattern.
| The largest windows give a wonderful panoramic view. | النوافذ الكبرى تعطي إطلالة بانورامية رائعة.an-nawâfidhu l-kubrâ tu'tî itlâlatan bânûrâmiyyatan râ'i'atan |
