Comparatives and Superlatives in Irish

Overview

Comparing things is a fundamental part of conversation — saying something is bigger, better, or the most interesting. In Irish, comparatives and superlatives use the particles níos (more, in the present) and is (most, for superlatives), combined with a special comparative form of the adjective.

The comparative form of an adjective is often different from its base form. Regular adjectives typically form the comparative by slenderizing the final consonant and/or adding endings, while several common adjectives have irregular comparative forms that must be memorized. For example, mór (big) has the comparative mó (bigger), and maith (good) becomes fearr (better).

The superlative in Irish is structurally identical to the comparative but uses the copula is instead of níos: an duine is airde (the tallest person). In the past tense, níos becomes ní ba (or ní b' before vowels), adding another layer to this system.

How It Works

Comparative: níos + Comparative Form

Adjective	Comparative	English
mór (big)	níos mó	bigger
beag (small)	níos lú	smaller
maith (good)	níos fearr	better
dona (bad)	níos measa	worse
ard (tall)	níos airde	taller
fada (long)	níos faide	longer
gearr (short)	níos giorra	shorter
sean (old)	níos sine	older
óg (young)	níos óige	younger
te (hot)	níos teo	hotter
fuar (cold)	níos fuaire	colder

Superlative: is + Comparative Form

Irish	English
an duine is airde	the tallest person
an bia is blasta	the tastiest food
an lá is faide	the longest day
an rud is fearr	the best thing
an ceann is lú	the smallest one

Past Tense Comparative: ní ba / ní b'

Present	Past	English
níos mó	ní ba mhó	was bigger
níos fearr	ní b'fhearr	was better
níos airde	ní b'airde	was taller

Comparison Structure

Irish	English
Tá sé níos mó ná an ceann eile.	It is bigger than the other one.
Is í an bhean is airde.	She is the tallest woman.

Examples in Context

Irish	English	Note
Tá sé níos mó ná an ceann eile.	It is bigger than the other one.	"ná" = than
Is í an bhean is airde.	She is the tallest woman.	Superlative with copula
Tá sé seo níos fearr.	This is better.	Irregular: maith → fearr
Ba mhó an teach sin.	That house was bigger.	Past copula
Tá an aimsir níos fuaire inniu.	The weather is colder today.	Regular comparative
Is é an lá is faide é.	It is the longest day.	Superlative
Bhí sé ní ba shine ná mise.	He was older than me.	Past comparative
Cé acu is fearr leat?	Which do you prefer?	"is fearr" in question
An bhfuil sé níos saoire?	Is it cheaper?	Question with comparative
Is é seo an leabhar is suimiúla.	This is the most interesting book.	Superlative with -úla

Common Mistakes

Using the base adjective instead of the comparative form

• Wrong: Tá sé níos mór
• Right: Tá sé níos mó.
• Why: After níos, you must use the comparative form of the adjective, not the base form.

Forgetting "ná" in comparisons

• Wrong: Tá sé níos mó an ceann eile
• Right: Tá sé níos mó ná an ceann eile.
• Why: Comparisons require ná (than) between the two things being compared.

Using "níos" for past comparisons

• Wrong: Bhí sé níos mó
• Right: Bhí sé ní ba mhó.
• Why: In the past tense, níos changes to ní ba (or ní b' before vowels/f).

Usage Notes

Some comparative forms are highly irregular and must simply be memorized. The most important irregular comparatives are maith → fearr (good → better), olc/dona → measa (bad → worse), mór → mó (big → bigger), and beag → lú (small → smaller). These are among the most frequently used comparatives in the language.

Practice Tips

1. Compare pairs of everyday objects using different adjectives: Tá an leabhar seo níos mó ná an ceann sin (This book is bigger than that one).
2. Practice superlatives by identifying the "most" in groups of three: an duine is sine, an ceann is fearr, an lá is fuaire.

Related Concepts

• Basic Adjectives — the adjective forms that comparatives are derived from