German Comparative & Superlative: -er, am -sten, and Irregulars
Learn how to compare things in German with -er and am …-sten, use als for "than," and master umlaut and irregular forms like gut–besser–am besten.
German makes comparisons in two steps. The comparative adds -er to the adjective: klein → kleiner, schnell → schneller. To say "than," use als: Mein Bruder ist größer als ich.
The superlative uses am + adjective + -sten: am kleinsten, am schnellsten.
| positive | comparative | superlative |
|---|---|---|
| klein | kleiner | am kleinsten |
| schnell | schneller | am schnellsten |
| alt | älter | am ältesten |
| groß | größer | am größten |
Many one-syllable adjectives take an umlaut: alt → älter, jung → jünger, groß → größer, hoch → höher, nah → näher.
Some are irregular and must be memorized:
| positive | comparative | superlative |
|---|---|---|
| gut | besser | am besten |
| viel | mehr | am meisten |
| gern | lieber | am liebsten |
Contrast for English speakers: German has no more/most pattern — you never say mehr schnell. Even long adjectives take -er/-sten (interessanter, am interessantesten). Always compare with als, not wie.
Examples
Mein Bruder Grammatical analysisBase form seinPerson3rd person singular (er/sie/es)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form großDegreeKomparativ (comparative)Checked deterministically before build als Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build.
My brother is taller than me.
Das rote Auto Grammatical analysisBase form fahrenPerson3rd person singular (er/sie/es)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build schneller als Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form ZugCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build.
The red car drives faster than the train.
Dieses Buch Grammatical analysisBase form seinPerson3rd person singular (er/sie/es)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build am Grammatical analysisBase form interessantDegreeSuperlativ (superlative)Checked deterministically before build.
This book is the most interesting.
Grammatical analysisBase form meinenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build Schwester isst am Grammatical analysisBase form liebDegreeSuperlativ (superlative)Checked deterministically before build Brot.
My sister likes eating bread the most.
Common mistakes
German never uses mehr ("more") to form the comparative. Add -er directly to the adjective, no matter how long it is.
After a comparative, "than" is als, not wie. (wie means "as … as" for equality: so groß wie.)
gut is irregular: gut → besser → am besten. There is no form guter.
Related topics
Practice
Der Zug ist ___ als das Auto.
Anna singt ___ als ihr Bruder.
Von allen Kindern ist Tom ___.