hobe / gehiago

Better, More, Less

Level 2

Like English "good, better", some Basque words change: on → hobe (better), ondo → hobeto (better, for how something is done), asko → gehiago (more).

How It Works

1. Good and well.

  • on (good) → hobe(a) (better) → onena (the best)
  • ondo (well) → hobeto (better) → ondoen (best)

You may see onago in some older writing, but hobe is the normal form. In the North and in writing you will also meet ongi and hobeki; see Northern words.

2. hobe or hobeto? hobe describes a thing: Pastel hau hobea da (This cake is better). hobeto describes an action or a state: Gaur hobeto egin duzu (You have done better today). The phrase hobe da means "it is better (to)": Hobe da orain joatea (It is better to go now).

3. More and less. asko → gehiago → gehien (the most), gutxi → gutxiago → gutxien (the least). They follow the noun: ur gehiago, lan gutxiago. With a verb: Gehiago ikasi behar dut (I need to study more). They work with baino like -ago: Zuk nik baino diru gehiago duzu (You have more money than me).

4. Much better, much more. askoz hobea, askoz hobeto, askoz gehiago.

5. Too much. gehiegi means "too much, too many"; see -egi.

Examples (6)

  1. Hobeto nago, eskerrik asko.

    I feel better, thank you.

    hobeto describes how you are.

  2. Pastel hau hori baino hobea da.

    This cake is better than that one.

    hobea describes a thing.

  3. Zure ideia da onena.

    Your idea is the best one.

  4. Ur gehiago nahi duzu?

    Do you want more water?

    gehiago follows the noun.

  5. Gaur lan gutxiago daukat.

    I have less work today.

  6. Anek zuk baino hobeto abesten du.

    Ane sings better than you.

    hobeto describes how she sings.

Common Mistakes

  • Using hobe for how something is done.

    Gaur hobe egin duzu.
    Gaur hobeto egin duzu.

    hobe describes things. To say how an action is done, use the adverb hobeto.

  • Using asko with baino.

    Zuk nik baino diru asko duzu.
    Zuk nik baino diru gehiago duzu.

    baino needs a comparative. The comparative of asko is gehiago, so "more money" is diru gehiago.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

hobe / gehiagoLevel 2Better, More, Less

Learn This First

Irregular comparatives follow the regular comparative.

Words in This Pattern

hobetoonaskoaskogutxi