The Comparative Suffix: -mpi
To compare two things in Finnish, add the suffix -mpi to the adjective's stem. When stating what something is being compared to, use the word kuin (than).
When a two-syllable adjective ends in -a or -ä, that final vowel changes to an -e before the suffix is added. For example, syvä (deep) becomes syvempi. Adding -mpi also triggers consonant gradation in the stem. The common word pitkä (long, tall) undergoes both of these changes, resulting in the comparative form pidempi.
| This river is longer. | Tämä joki on pidempi. |
| He is taller than me. | Hän on pidempi kuin minä. |
| This lake is deeper than that river. | Tämä järvi on syvempi kuin tuo joki. |
Other Adjective Stems
For adjectives ending in -ut or -yt, such as lyhyt (short), the stem ends in -e (lyhye-). Simply add the suffix to this stem to get lyhyempi.
| Is the new bed shorter than the old one? | Onko uusi sänky lyhyempi kuin vanha? |
For adjectives with three or more syllables, the final vowel does not change. Attach the -mpi suffix directly:
- korkea (high, tall) → korkeampi
- matala (low, shallow) → matalampi
- leveä (wide) → leveämpi
| That tree is taller than this house. | Tuo puu on korkeampi kuin tämä talo. |
| Is the lake shallower than the sea? | Onko järvi matalampi kuin meri? |
| That street is wider than this road. | Tuo katu on leveämpi kuin tämä tie. |
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