There is a general rule to form the superlative [the most/the least] of an adjective, with:
el/la/los/las + más/menos + adjective
Irregular superlatives in Spanish: mejor, peor, mayor, menor
However there are some irregular superlatives which have their own form. These are:
- mejor /mejores (best)
- peor /peores (worse/worst)
- mayor /mayores (biggest/oldest)
- menor /menores (smallest/youngest)
Have a look a the following examples:
Para mí, el año 2000 fue el peor año de mi vida.For me, the year 2000 was the worst year of my life.
La mayor satisfacción para nosotros es estar con los nietos.The greatest satisfaction for us is to be with our grandchildren.
Careful:
Don't use más when using these irregular superlatives. It is incorrect to say:
María es la más mayor.
Carlos es el más mejor.
Bear in mind that their regular superlative forms can also be used:
el/la/los/las + más/menos + bueno/-a/-os/-as
= mejor/mejores
= mejor/mejores
el/la/los/las + más/menos + malo/-a/-os/-as
= peor/peores
= peor/peores
el/la/los/las+ más/menos + grande/-s or viejo/-a/-os/-as
= mayor/mayores
= mayor/mayores
el/la/los/las+ más/menos + pequeño/-a/-os/-as
= menor/menores
Notice how in the examples above the superlatives can accompany a noun or also function as a pronoun. In both cases they need to agree with the noun they refer to.
De todos los colegios que he visitado, este es el mejor.
Of all the schools I visited, this is the best one.
Ese es el mejor colegio de la zona.
That is the best school in the area.
See also Forming comparative adjectives in Spanish: mayor/menor/mejor/peor and How to say the most / the least + adjective in Spanish (superlatives)
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Examples and resources
Eva tiene 12 años pero Laura tiene 8. Ella es la menor.Eva is 12 years old but Laura is 8. She is the youngest.
La mayor satisfacción para nosotros es estar con los nietos.The greatest satisfaction for us is to be with our grandchildren.
