Ever wanted to say, “I’m taller than my brother” in Spanish without second-guessing yourself?
Good news: if you can do that, you can compare anything in real conversations.
Comparatives in Spanish aren’t scary at all. In fact, they’re fun, and once you learn a few foolproof formulas, you’ll be ready to talk about height, food, pets, movies, sports, and so much more.
Today, I’ll show you how to use comparatives in Spanish naturally and confidently. By the end, you’ll be comparing things like a pro (and maybe even impressing your Spanish-speaking friends).
Ready? Let’s dive in!
What Are Comparatives in Spanish?
Comparatives are words or expressions that let us describe how two things relate to each other, one being bigger, smaller, better, worse, and so on.
In Spanish, there are three essential formulas you need to know:
- Más + adjective + que (“More … than”)
- Menos + adjective + que (“Less … than”)
- Tan + adjective + como (“As … as”)
That’s it. Three simple structures that open the door to hundreds of sentences.
Let’s break them down with real-life examples (and a couple of funny twists).
Formula 1: Más + Adjective + Que (“More … than”)
The first formula is used to describe something that possesses a quality more than another thing.
Structure:
- Más + [adjective] + que
Think of it as: More + adjective + than.
Here are a few examples:
- Yo soy más alto que mi hermano.
I’m taller than my brother.
(And no, I’m not bragging, just stating facts! Imagine a photo of us side by side here.)
Another one, perfect for school or work:
- Tú eres más responsable que yo.
You’re more responsible than me.
That’s flattery, right? (Might even get you brownie points with your boss!)
Remember: Don’t forget the little accent mark on más. It’s small but mighty.
A Quick Twist: “Mejor”
Here’s something important about adjectives like “good.”
In Spanish, we don’t usually say más bueno (“more good”). Instead, we use mejor, which means better.
So instead of:
- Esta película es más buena que la otra.
You say:
- Esta película es mejor que la otra.
This movie is better than the other one.
(Sorry, but the second Shrek is better than the rest. Don’t fight me on this!)
Bottom line: for “good,” skip más and go straight to mejor.
Formula 2: Menos + Adjective + Que (“Less … than”)
Ready for the second formula? It’s just as simple as the first one.
Structure:
Menos + [adjective] + que
Translation: Less + adjective + than.
You literally just switched más to menos.
Examples:
- Él es menos tímido que ella.
He’s less shy than she is. - Esta comida es menos costosa que esa.
This food is less expensive than that one.
See how easy that is?
Another Twist: “Peor”
Just like we don’t say más bueno, we also don’t say menos bueno to mean worse.
Spanish gives us another handy word: peor.
Peor = worse
For example:
- Este partido fue peor que el último.
This game was worse than the last one.
(My favorite teams, by the way? Yankees and San Lorenzo. They’ve given me some peor games than I care to admit!)
Formula 3: Tan + Adjective + Como (“As … as”)
Now, for the third and final formula, great for saying two things are equal.
Structure:
Tan + [adjective] + como
That’s the Spanish way to say ‘’as … as’’’.
Let’s look at some everyday examples:
- Mi gato es tan lindo como mi perro.
My cat is as cute as my dog.
(If you’re a cat person, you’ll love this one. If you’re a dog person… We’ll call it a tie!)
Here’s another:
- Mi carro es tan rápido como el tuyo.
My car is as fast as yours.
Easy, right? Tan rápido como. Done.
Comparing Like a Native: Quick Tips
You’ve got the three main formulas, but here are a few extra tips to make your sentences sound even more natural.
1. Watch the Adjective’s Gender and Number
In Spanish, adjectives agree with the noun they describe.
Example:
- María es más simpática que Juan. (feminine)
- Mis amigos son menos pacientes que yo. (plural)
2. Mind Irregulars
We already talked about mejor (better) and peor (worse). There’s also:
- Mayor = older (instead of más viejo for people)
- Menor = younger
- Mi hermana es menor que yo.
My sister is younger than me.
3. Use Comparatives in Everyday Conversations
The key is practice! Try them when talking about:
- Food: La pizza es más deliciosa que la hamburguesa.
- Travel: Barcelona es tan bonita como Madrid.
- Sports: El básquet es menos popular que el fútbol.
Why Comparatives Matter
Comparatives aren’t just grammar; they’re conversation gold.
They let you:
- Give opinions: Esta serie es mejor que esa.
- Describe people and places: El clima aquí es menos frío que en Canadá.
- Share preferences: Prefiero este libro; es más interesante que el otro.
And because they’re so common, mastering them makes your Spanish sound instantly more natural
Learning comparatives in Spanish doesn’t have to be boring or complicated.
With just three formulas -más que, menos que, and tan como- you can build tons of useful sentences. Add in a few irregulars like mejor, peor, mayor, and menor, and you’re unstoppable.
Next time you talk to a Spanish speaker, try dropping one of these sentences:
- Mi ciudad es más tranquila que la tuya.
- Tu pastel es mejor que el mío.
- Este café es tan fuerte como el té.
See how naturally they fit into conversations?
So go ahead, practice, compare, and have fun with it! The more you try out real examples, the more natural your sentences will sound.
Remember, mastering comparatives in Spanish is not just about memorizing “más que” or “menos que,” but about using them in real situations: talk about your friends, your hobbies, or even your favorite foods.
Challenge yourself to describe which movie is better, which place is more beautiful, or who runs faster in your family.
