Language/Standard-arabic/Grammar/Comparative-and-superlative

Standard Arabic Grammar → Adjectives in Arabic → Comparative and superlative

As a beginner in the Arabic language, you might think that adjectives are just words that describe nouns. However, adjectives in Arabic are so much more than that. In this lesson, we will learn about comparative and superlative adjectives in Arabic, which will help you to express comparisons more accurately and vividly.

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two or more nouns or pronouns. In Arabic, comparative adjectives are formed by adding the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) before the adjective or by adding the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) after the adjective. Here are two examples:

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Past tense conjugation & Question formation.

Standard Arabic	Pronunciation	English
مَجْدُول	majdool	Taller
أَكْثَر مَجْدُول	akthar majdool	Taller

In the first example, "مَجْدُول" (majdool) means "tall". In the second example, "أَكْثَر مَجْدُول" (akthar majdool) means "taller". Notice how we added the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) before the adjective.

Another way to form a comparative adjective is by adding the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) after the adjective. Here is an example:

Standard Arabic	Pronunciation	English
غَلِيْظ	ghaleeth	Thicker
غَلِيْظ أَكْثَر	ghaleeth akthar	Thicker

In the first example, "غَلِيْظ" (ghaleeth) means "thick". In the second example, "غَلِيْظ أَكْثَر" (ghaleeth akthar) means "thicker". Notice how we added the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) after the adjective.

Superlative adjectives are used to compare one noun or pronoun against all others in a group. In Arabic, superlative adjectives are formed by adding the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) before the adjective and the word "مِنْ" (min) after the noun. Here is an example:

Standard Arabic	Pronunciation	English
الْمَطْعَمُ الْأَفْضَلُ	al-maṭʿamu al-ʾafḍalu	The Best Restaurant
الْمَطْعَمُ الْأَفْضَلُ مِنْهُمْ	al-maṭʿamu al-ʾafḍalu minhum	The Best Restaurant of Them

In the first example, "الْمَطْعَمُ الْأَفْضَلُ" (al-maṭʿamu al-ʾafḍalu) means "the best restaurant". In the second example, "الْمَطْعَمُ الْأَفْضَلُ مِنْهُمْ" (al-maṭʿamu al-ʾafḍalu minhum) means "the best restaurant of them". Notice how we added the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) before the adjective and the word "مِنْ" (min) after the noun.

It is important to note that comparative and superlative adjectives in Arabic also have feminine and plural forms. The feminine form is created by adding the suffix "-ة" (-ah) to the adjective, while the plural form is created by adding the suffix "-ون" (-oon) to the adjective.

For example, the feminine form of "كَبِير" (kabir), meaning "big", is "كَبِيرَة" (kabirah), while the plural form is "كِبَار" (kibaar).

In summary, comparative and superlative adjectives in Arabic are powerful tools for expressing comparisons. By adding the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) before or after an adjective, we can create comparative adjectives. By adding the word "أَكْثَر" (akthar) before an adjective and "مِنْ" (min) after a noun, we can create superlative adjectives. Don't forget to take into account the feminine and plural forms of adjectives in Arabic.

Good luck with your studies!

Practice

• Form the comparative and superlative of the following adjectives:

1. جَمِيل (jameel) - Beautiful
2. قَوِيّ (qawiyy) - Strong
3. كَثِيْف (kathif) - Dense
4. صَغِير (saghir) - Small
5. عَظِيْم (ʿaẓīm) - Great

Sources

• Arabic Compound Tenses
• Arabic Grammar

Table of Contents - Standard Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Arabic script

• Arabic vowels
• Arabic consonants
• Basic Arabic phrases

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Nouns and gender in Arabic

• Definite and indefinite articles
• Masculine and feminine nouns

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Verbs and conjugation in Arabic

• Present tense conjugation
• Past tense conjugation
• Future tense conjugation

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Numbers and counting in Arabic

• Cardinal numbers 1-100
• Ordinal numbers

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Everyday Arabic vocabulary

• Greetings and farewells
• Colors
• Days of the week
• Months of the year

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Food and drink vocabulary

• Basic food vocabulary
• Drinks

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Arabic customs and traditions

• Islam and Arabic culture
• Arabic hospitality

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Arabic music and entertainment

• Arabic music genres
• Arabic dance

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Adjectives in Arabic

• Adjective agreement and placement
• Comparative and superlative

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Pronouns in Arabic

• Personal pronouns
• Possessive pronouns

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Prepositions in Arabic

• Basic prepositions
• Prepositions of time and place

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Interrogatives in Arabic

• Question words
• Question formation

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Adverbs in Arabic

• Formation and placement
• Negation

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Transportation vocabulary

• Public transportation
• Asking for directions

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Shopping and money vocabulary

• Money vocabulary
• Shopping vocabulary

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Arabic literature and poetry

• Classical Arabic literature
• Arabic poetry

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Arabic calligraphy and art

• History of Arabic calligraphy
• Arabic art and architecture

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Weather vocabulary

• Basic weather vocabulary
• Talking about the weather

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Conditional sentences in Arabic

• First and second conditional
• Third conditional and mixed conditionals

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Passive voice in Arabic

• Formation and usage
• Differences from the active voice

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Relative clauses in Arabic

• Formation and usage
• Differences from English relative clauses

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Arabic adjectives and nouns

• Common Arabic adjectives
• Compound nouns in Arabic

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Arabic cinema and TV

• Arabic cinema
• Arabic TV

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Arabic fashion and beauty

• Traditional Arabic dress
• Arabic beauty and cosmetics

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Sports and leisure vocabulary

• Popular Arabic sports
• Leisure activities

Other Lessons

• How to Use Be
• Plurals
• Third conditional and mixed conditionals
• Coordination words
• Adjectives
• THE CASES OR DECLENSION OF NOUNS (Subjet, Direct and Indirec objects)
• Future Tense
• THE IMPERATIVE
• Conditional Mood
• Arabic vowels