-en
The Most: -en
Add -en and the article -a for "the -est": handiena (the biggest), merkeena (the cheapest). Mikel da altuena (Mikel is the tallest).
How It Works
1. Making the form. handi → handiena, txiki → txikiena, polit → politena, gazte → gazteena (keep both e's), merke → merkeena, zahar → zaharrena (the r doubles), on → onena (the best).
2. The group. Use -ko for "in" a place or group: klaseko ikasle altuena (the tallest student in the class). You will also hear klaseko ikaslerik altuena, with -rik on the noun; see the superlative with -rik.
3. It is often the focus. "Who is the tallest?" asks about a person, so the answer goes right before the verb: Mikel da altuena. See focus.
4. The most and the least. For amounts use gehien (the most) and gutxien (the least): Zer gustatzen zaizu gehien? (What do you like most?). "Best" as an adverb is ondoen: Anek abesten du ondoen (Ane sings best).
5. Compare with the comparative. altuagoa is "taller" (than someone), -ago; altuena is "the tallest" (of all). Do not put both endings on one word.
Examples (6)
- Mikel da altuena.
Mikel is the tallest.
Mikel is the focus, so it comes right before da.
- Zein da merkeena?
Which one is the cheapest?
merke + -en + -a: both e's stay.
- Hau da hiriko jatetxe onena.
This is the best restaurant in the city.
hiriko names the group: "of the city".
- Nire anaia gazteena Bilbon bizi da.
My youngest brother lives in Bilbao.
- Gure familian amona da zaharrena.
In our family, Grandma is the oldest.
zahar doubles its r: zaharrena.
- Zer gustatzen zaizu gehien?
What do you like most?
gehien is the superlative of asko.
Common Mistakes
Building it with gehien, as in Spanish "el más alto".
Mikel da gehien altua.Mikel da altuena.Basque adds -en to the adjective itself. gehien is only for amounts: the most.
Putting -ago and -en on the same word.
Hau da handiagoena.Hau da handiena.-ago means "more" and -en means "most". Use one or the other.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The superlative follows the comparative.
Related Patterns
- hobe / gehiagoBetter, More, Less
Special forms like hobe, gehien and ondoen.
Level 2 - -rik + -enaThe Best of: -rik + -ena
The superlative with -rik on the noun: hiririk handiena.
Level 4 - -koOf a Place: -ko
Used to name the group: klaseko altuena.
Level 1 - The Focus Goes Before the Verb
Why the answer goes right before the verb: Mikel da altuena.
Level 1 - ahalik eta + -enAs ... as Possible
The same -en in "as ... as possible".
Level 3
Practice -en in Bubblegum
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