Understanding Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in Hebrew

What Are Comparative and Superlative Adjectives?

In Hebrew, comparative and superlative adjectives are used to describe differences in qualities between two or more items. They help express degrees of comparison-whether something is smaller, larger, more beautiful, or the most beautiful, etc.

Forming Comparative Adjectives in Hebrew

To form a comparative adjective in Hebrew, the word יותר (yoter), meaning 'more', is placed before the adjective. For example: more beautiful - יותר יפה (yoter yafe)

Forming Superlative Adjectives in Hebrew

To create a superlative adjective, Hebrew uses the prefix הכי (hachi), meaning 'the most', before the adjective. This signals that the subject is at the highest or lowest degree in a given quality compared to all others. For example: the oldest - הכי ישן (hachi yashan)

Practical Examples

Here's how you can use comparative and superlative adjectives in sentences.

• Comparative Example: הכלב שלי יותר קטן מהחתול שלך. (The dog is smaller than your cat.)
• Superlative Example: היא הכי יפה בכיתה. (She is the most beautiful in the class.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learners often confuse the use of יותר and הכי, using them interchangeably. Remember, יותר is for comparisons ('more'), while הכי is for superlatives ('the most').