How to Use Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives in Croatian

Understanding Adjectives in Croatian

Adjectives in Croatian agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. When expressing comparisons, Croatian uses specific forms to indicate comparative and superlative degrees, which are essential for effective communication.

Forming the Comparative in Croatian

The comparative form in Croatian is typically created by adding the suffix -iji or -ji to the adjective stem. The exact suffix depends on the adjective's ending and phonetic rules.

For example, the adjective dobar (good) becomes bolji (better) in the comparative form. Note that some adjectives have irregular comparative forms.

• dobar → bolji (good → better)
• velik → veći (big → bigger)
• mali → manji (small → smaller)
• lijep → ljepši (beautiful → more beautiful)

Using the Comparative

The comparative is often used with the word nego (than) to compare two things, similar to English.

Forming the Superlative in Croatian

The superlative form is usually formed by adding the prefix naj- to the comparative form of the adjective.

For example, bolji (better) becomes najbolji (the best). This prefix indicates the highest degree of the quality.

• dobar → najbolji (good → the best)
• velik → najveći (big → the biggest)
• mali → najmanji (small → the smallest)
• lijep → najljepši (beautiful → the most beautiful)

Using the Superlative

The superlative is used to express the extreme or highest degree of a quality, often translated as "the most" or "the -est" in English.

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms

Some Croatian adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that do not follow the standard pattern. It's important to memorize these exceptions.

• dobar → bolji → najbolji (good → better → best)
• loš → lošiji → najlošiji (bad → worse → worst)
• mali → manji → najmanji (small → smaller → smallest)

Summary and Tips

To master comparative and superlative adjectives in Croatian, remember these key points:

1. Form the comparative by adding -iji or -ji to the adjective stem.
2. Use nego to compare two things.
3. Form the superlative by adding the prefix naj- to the comparative form.
4. Memorize irregular forms as exceptions.
5. Ensure adjective agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case.