Understanding French Superlatives
French superlative adjectives express the highest or lowest degree of a quality within a group. They answer "which one is the most/least...?"
There are two types of superlatives:
Relative superlative: the most/least (compared to others)
Absolute superlative: very/extremely (without comparison)
Superlatives are essential for expressing extremes and making definitive statements.
Examples
C'est le plus grand bâtiment de la ville. (It's the tallest building in the city.)
Relative superlative - compared to other buildings
Elle est la moins patiente de la famille. (She is the least patient in the family.)
Relative superlative - compared to family members
C'est très intéressant. (It's very interesting.)
Absolute superlative - no comparison
Relative Superlative Formation
Relative superlatives use definite article + plus/moins + adjective.
Structure: le/la/les + plus/moins + adjective + (de + group)
The definite article agrees with the noun being described.
Superiority Superlative (The Most)
Using le/la/les plus for "the most":
Superiority Superlative
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| le plus grand | masculine singular | the biggest (m.s.) |
| la plus grande | feminine singular | the biggest (f.s.) |
| les plus grands | masculine plural | the biggest (m.p.) |
| les plus grandes | feminine plural | the biggest (f.p.) |
Inferiority Superlative (The Least)
Using le/la/les moins for "the least":
Inferiority Superlative
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| le moins cher | masculine singular | the least expensive (m.s.) |
| la moins chère | feminine singular | the least expensive (f.s.) |
| les moins chers | masculine plural | the least expensive (m.p.) |
| les moins chères | feminine plural | the least expensive (f.p.) |
Superlative with Groups (DE)
To specify the group being compared, use de after the superlative:
Pattern: le/la/les + plus/moins + adjective + de + group
This shows what the subject is being compared against.
Examples
C'est le plus intelligent de la classe. (He's the most intelligent in the class.)
Compared to the class group
Elle est la moins timide de ses sœurs. (She's the least shy of her sisters.)
Compared to her sisters
Ce sont les plus beaux de tous. (These are the most beautiful of all.)
Compared to all others
Common Group Expressions
Typical ways to express the comparison group:
de la famille (of the family)
du groupe (of the group)
de la ville (of the city)
du monde (in the world)
de tous (of all)
de toutes (of all - feminine)
Irregular Superlatives
Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms:
Bon → Le Meilleur (Good → The Best)
The adjective "bon" becomes "le meilleur" in superlatives:
Le Meilleur (The Best)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| le meilleur | masculine singular | C'est le meilleur film. (It's the best movie.) |
| la meilleure | feminine singular | C'est la meilleure idée. (It's the best idea.) |
| les meilleurs | masculine plural | Ce sont les meilleurs. (These are the best.) |
| les meilleures | feminine plural | Les meilleures notes. (The best grades.) |
Mauvais → Le Pire (Bad → The Worst)
The adjective "mauvais" can become "le pire":
C'est le pire jour de ma vie. (It's the worst day of my life.)
Using le pire for worst
Alternative: C'est le plus mauvais. (It's the worst.)
Can also use le plus mauvais
Petit → Le Plus Petit/Le Moindre
Small has different superlative forms:
Physical: C'est le plus petit chat. (It's the smallest cat.)
For physical size
Abstract: C'est le moindre problème. (It's the slightest problem.)
For importance/degree
Superlative Position Rules
Superlative adjectives follow the same placement rules as regular adjectives, but with the definite article:
Examples
BAGS adjectives: la plus belle maison (the most beautiful house)
Beauty adjective stays before noun
Regular adjectives: la voiture la plus rapide (the fastest car)
Regular adjective after noun with repeated article
Double Article Pattern
When adjectives go after the noun, repeat the definite article:
l'étudiant le plus intelligent (the most intelligent student)
Article repeated before superlative
la fille la moins timide (the least shy girl)
Article repeated with moins
les voitures les plus chères (the most expensive cars)
Plural articles repeated
Absolute Superlatives
Absolute superlatives express a very high degree without comparison. French uses several methods:
Examples
très + adjective: très intelligent (very intelligent)
Most common absolute superlative
fort + adjective: fort intéressant (very interesting)
Emphatic absolute superlative
extrêmement + adjective: extrêmement difficile (extremely difficult)
Strong absolute superlative
Other Absolute Superlative Forms
Additional ways to express absolute superlatives:
super/hyper (informal): super cool, hyper rapide
Informal intensifiers
tout à fait: tout à fait d'accord (completely agree)
Complete agreement/degree
assez: assez grand (quite big)
Moderate degree
Common Superlative Mistakes
Here are frequent errors students make with French superlatives:
1. Missing articles: Forgetting definite articles in superlatives
2. Wrong irregular forms: Using le plus bon instead of le meilleur
3. Article repetition: Not repeating articles with post-noun adjectives
4. Agreement errors: Wrong gender/number agreement
Examples
❌ plus grand → ✅ le plus grand
Wrong: must include definite article
❌ le plus bon → ✅ le meilleur
Wrong: must use irregular form
❌ la voiture plus rapide → ✅ la voiture la plus rapide
Wrong: must repeat article after noun
❌ la plus grand → ✅ la plus grande
Wrong: adjective must agree with feminine noun