Irregular Comparatives
In Spanish, most adjectives use más or menos to make comparisons. However, a few common adjectives have irregular comparative forms. Instead of saying más bueno or más viejo, you will use a single new word.
- mejor (better)
- peor (worse)
- mayor (older)
- menor (younger)
These irregular forms do not change for gender, but they do change for number. To make them plural, just add -es (e.g., mejores, peores).
Older and Younger
When talking about age, use mayor (older) and menor (younger). They usually go right after the noun when describing family members.
| My older brother is an excellent student. | Mi hermano mayor es un estudiante excelente. |
To say someone is older or younger than someone else, use mayor que or menor que.
| I am older than my younger sister. | Yo soy mayor que mi hermana menor. |
Better and Worse
Use mejor (better) and peor (worse) to compare quality. Unlike most Spanish adjectives, mejor and peor often come before the noun they describe.
| This screen has better quality and is a better option. | Esta pantalla tiene mejor calidad y es una mejor opción. |
You can also use them after the verb ser (to be) to say that something is better or worse.
| This product is worse because it is not durable. | Este producto es peor porque no es resistente. |
Remember to add -es when talking about multiple things!
| There are worse products in this market. | Hay productos peores en este mercado. |