pequeño menor smaller, younger
(^) más pequeño smaller
bajo inferior lower, inferior
más bajo lower, shorter (height)
alto superior higher, superior
más alto higher, taller (height)
mayor and menor are especially used to indicate older and younger in family
relationships:
mi hermano mayor
my older brother
su hermana menor
his younger sister
Superlatives
más and menos are also used to form superlatives – ‘biggest’, ‘youngest’, ‘most
interesting’, etc. The absence of the following que indicates that a superlative rather than
a comparative is intended:
la película más interesante
the most interesting film
el pueblo más aislado
the most remote village
el coche menos caro
the cheapest car
Note: To express the English ‘in’ after a superlative, de must be used:
la chica más inteligente de la clase
the most intelligent girl in the class
el país más rico del mundo
the richest country in the world
Comparatives and superlatives 75