Kom ons kraak dit.
When you compare things, adjectives change form: groot, groter, grootste (big, bigger, biggest). These forms are called the trappe van vergelyking (degrees of comparison). You’ll need them in every essay, every description and plenty of exam language questions, and the good news is that most of it works just like English -er and -est.
Rules
Know the three degrees
Every adjective has three forms, or trappe (degrees):
- Stellende trap (positive degree): the plain word. vinnig (fast)
- Vergrotende trap (comparative degree): you compare two things. vinniger (faster)
- Oortreffende trap (superlative degree): the most of all. vinnigste (fastest)
| Stellende trap | Vergrotende trap |
|---|---|
| Die hond is vinnig. | Die perd is vinniger. |
| Die huis is mooi. | Die kasteel is mooier. |
| Stellende trap | Oortreffende trap |
|---|---|
| Die hond is vinnig. | Die jagluiperd is die vinnigste. |
| Die huis is mooi. | Die paleis is die mooiste. |
Most words just add -er and -ste
For most adjectives, add -er for the comparative and -ste for the superlative.
| Stellend | Vergrotend | Oortreffend |
|---|---|---|
| vinnig | vinniger | vinnigste |
| klein | kleiner | kleinste |
| mooi | mooier | mooiste |
| maklik | makliker | maklikste |
| kort | korter | kortste |
| ryk | ryker | rykste |
Watch the spelling changes
The ending stays the same, but the spelling of the word sometimes shifts. These are the ones that catch people out.
Short vowel → double the last consonant (just like English big → bigger):
| Stellend | Vergrotend | Oortreffend |
|---|---|---|
| dik | dikker | dikste |
| dun | dunner | dunste |
| nat | natter | natste |
Long double vowel → write it single before -er (the vowel still sounds long):
| Stellend | Vergrotend | Oortreffend |
|---|---|---|
| groot | groter | grootste |
| breed | breër | breedste |
| laag | laer | laagste |
| hoog | hoër | hoogste |
Notice that laag and hoog lose their -g, and breed loses its -d, in the comparative. Hoër and breër need a deelteken (diaeresis) on the e so you read two separate vowel sounds. The superlative keeps the full word: hoogste, not hoëste.
Other changes to learn by heart:
| Stellend | Vergrotend | Oortreffend |
|---|---|---|
| sag | sagter | sagste |
| oud | ouer | oudste |
| lank | langer | langste |
| jonk | jonger | jongste |
Words ending in -r take -der:
| Stellend | Vergrotend | Oortreffend |
|---|---|---|
| duur | duurder | duurste |
| ver | verder | verste |
| swaar | swaarder | swaarste |
| lekker | lekkerder | lekkerste |
Long words and loanwords can use meer and mees
With long words, and many words borrowed from other languages, Afrikaans often puts meer (more) and mees (most) in front instead of adding endings, like English more interesting, most interesting. This happens mostly with long words.
| Stellend | Vergrotend | Oortreffend |
|---|---|---|
| interessant | meer interessant | mees interessant |
| fantasties | meer fantasties | mees fantasties |
Some words can go both ways. Interessanter and meer interessant are both correct. If you’re unsure in a test, though, stick to -er and -ste for short, everyday words.
| Stellende trap | Vergrotende trap |
|---|---|
| Die boek is interessant. | Die fliek is meer interessant. |
| Die boek is interessant. | Die fliek is interessanter. |
Learn the irregular ones by heart
A few common words don’t follow the rules at all. They’re used all the time, so they’re worth memorising.
| Stellend | Vergrotend | Oortreffend |
|---|---|---|
| goed (good) | beter | beste |
| baie (many, much) | meer | meeste |
| min (few, little) | minder | minste |
| graag (gladly) | liewer | liefste |
| naby (near) | nader | naaste |
| Stellende trap | Vergrotend / oortreffend |
|---|---|
| Ek eet graag vis. | Ek eet liewer hoender as vis. |
| Sy het baie vriende. | Sy het die meeste vriende in die klas. |
| Die winkel is naby. | Die skool is nader as die winkel. |
Comparing: as, so … soos and die
Three little words make your comparisons work:
- Vergrotende trap + as (than): two things are different. Die olifant is groter as die perd.
- so … soos (as … as): two things are the same. Use the plain word (stellende trap) in the middle. Ek is so lank soos my pa.
- die + oortreffende trap (the …-est): the most of the whole group. Sipho is die vinnigste in die span.
| English | Afrikaans |
|---|---|
| My sister is older than me. | My suster is ouer as ek. |
| The test was as easy as last week’s. | Die toets was so maklik soos verlede week s’n. |
| This is the best day of my life! | Dit is die beste dag van my lewe! |
Wenk!
Count what you’re comparing. Two things? Use the vergrotende trap with as. Three or more, and one comes out on top? Use die + the oortreffende trap. Equal? Use so … soos with the plain word.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Hy is meer beter as ek.
Right: Hy is beter as ek.
Beter is already the comparative. Don’t add meer to it.
Wrong: Dit is die goedste koek.
Right: Dit is die beste koek.
Goed is irregular: goed, beter, beste.
Wrong: Die berg is hoeër as die heuwel.
Right: Die berg is hoër as die heuwel.
Hoog loses its -g and the oo becomes a single o: hoër, with the deelteken on the e.
Wrong: Ek is so lank as my broer.
Right: Ek is so lank soos my broer.
Equal comparisons use so … soos. Keep as for the comparative: langer as.
Wrong: Hierdie skoene is duurer as daardie.
Right: Hierdie skoene is duurder as daardie.
Words ending in -r take -der: duur, duurder, duurste.
Practice
Fill in the correct form of the word in brackets.
- Thabo is ___ (lank) as sy broer.
Show answerHide answer
langer
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Lerato is net so ___ (slim) soos haar ma.
Show answerHide answer
slim
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Dit is die ___ (goed) fliek wat ek nog gesien het.
Show answerHide answer
beste
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Ek eet ___ (graag) pizza as pasta.
Show answerHide answer
liewer
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Die berg is ___ (hoog) as die heuwel.
Show answerHide answer
hoër
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Wie het die ___ (baie) punte in die toets gekry?
Show answerHide answer
meeste
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Hierdie skoene is ___ (duur) as daardie skoene.
Show answerHide answer
duurder
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- My wiskundeboek is ___ (dik) as my Afrikaansboek.
Show answerHide answer
dikker
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Ek het ___ (min) geld as jy, want ek het alles op lekkers gespandeer.
Show answerHide answer
minder
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Die olifant is die ___ (groot) dier in die dieretuin.
Show answerHide answer
grootste
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
Klaar! Lekker gewerk.
You've checked every answer. Screenshot your score and flex in the group chat.
Related topics
GrammarGr 8–12
Meervoude (plurals)
Learn Afrikaans meervoude (plurals): easy spelling rules for -e, -s, -’s and irregular plurals, with 10 exercises and answers. For Grades 8–12 Afrikaans FAL.
GrammarGr 8–12
Verkleinwoorde (diminutives)
GrammarGr 8–12
Voegwoorde (conjunctions)
Learn Afrikaans voegwoorde (conjunctions) and the word order after each one, with easy rules, examples and 10 exercises. For Grades 8–12 Afrikaans FAL.
Notes for your grade:Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12