Comparative adjectives

Level 2

Comparative adjectives are used to express a higher degree of a quality, equivalent to English words ending in "-er" (older) or using "more" (more interesting). In Czech, they are formed by adding specific suffixes to the adjective and must agree with the noun they modify.

How It Works

The Czech comparative is highly regular in its endings, but the stem can sometimes change. Here is how it works:

1. Regular Suffixes

  • -ější / -ejší: The most common suffix. Example: zajímavý (interesting) → zajímavější (more interesting). Note that this suffix often causes consonant mutations (r → ř, sk → št, ck → čt). Examples: chytrý → chytřejší, přátelský → přátelštější, praktický → praktičtější. Additionally, adding -ější changes the pronunciation of preceding consonants d, t, n (which soften to ď, ť, ň, e.g., studený → studenější) and b, p, v, m (which are pronounced with a 'j' or 'ň' sound, e.g., zajímavý → zajímavější, známý → známější).
  • -ší: Often causes the stem vowel to shorten or a consonant to mutate (h → ž, ch → š, z → ž). For many adjectives ending in -ký, the k drops entirely. Example: krátký (short) → kratší (shorter); drahý (expensive) → dražší (more expensive); nízký (low) → nižší (lower). For certain common adjectives ending in -oký, the entire -ok- drops. Examples: široký (wide) → širší (wider), hluboký (deep) → hlubší (deeper). The word vysoký (tall/high) is an exception where the s also mutates to š: vyšší (taller/higher).
  • -čí: Restricted to a small, specific group of two-syllable adjectives ending in -ký (such as hezký, lehký, měkký, tenký, křehký). Example: hezký (pretty) → hezčí (prettier).

2. Irregular Forms
Some very common adjectives have irregular comparative stems:

  • dobrý (good) → lepší (better)
  • špatný (bad) / zlý (bad/evil/mean) → horší (worse)
  • velký (big) → větší (bigger)
  • malý (small) → menší (smaller)
  • dlouhý (long) → delší (longer)

3. The "Absolute Comparative"
Czech frequently uses the comparative without actually comparing two things. This is called the absolute comparative (or elativ). It translates to "rather," "quite," or "somewhat." For example, starší pán means "an elderly gentleman" (rather old), and delší doba means "a rather long time."

4. Forming the Superlative
Once you know the comparative form, making the superlative (the "most" or "best") is very easy. Simply add the prefix nej- to the comparative form. For example: lepší (better) → nejlepší (best), zajímavější (more interesting) → nejzajímavější (most interesting). Watch out for a common spelling trap: if the comparative form starts with 'j' (e.g., jasnější), adding the nej- prefix results in a double 'j' (nejjasnější).

Important Note: Unlike English, which switches to "more" for long words, Czech uses these suffixes for most adjectives. Standard Czech strongly prefers zajímavější over více zajímavý. However, the analytic form with více (more) is used for a specific subset of words that resist suffixes, such as active participles ending in -cí (e.g., více vyhovující for 'more suitable'), indeclinable foreign adjectives (e.g., více fér, více sexy), or highly technical adjectives. Standard adjectives derived from passive participles ending in -ný or -ený take the -ější suffix freely (e.g., spokojenější, unavenější).

Examples (5)

  1. Petr je starší než já.

    Petr is older than me.

    Word by Word: Petr is older than I.

    A standard comparison using the suffix '-ší' and the conjunction 'než'.

  2. Koupil jsem si novější auto.

    I bought a newer car.

    Word by Word: Bought am myself newer car.

    The comparative adjective 'novější' modifies the neuter noun 'auto' in the accusative case.

  3. Na lavičce seděl starší pán.

    An elderly gentleman was sitting on the bench.

    Word by Word: On bench sat older gentleman.

    An example of the 'absolute comparative'. He isn't necessarily being compared to anyone; he is just 'rather old'.

  4. Hledám nějakou zajímavější knihu.

    I am looking for a more interesting book.

    Word by Word: Look-for some more-interesting book.

    Notice how 'zajímavější' declines to match the feminine accusative noun 'knihu'. It follows the soft adjective pattern.

  5. Dnes je horší počasí než včera.

    The weather is worse today than yesterday.

    Word by Word: Today is worse weather than yesterday.

    Uses the highly irregular comparative form 'horší' (from 'špatný').

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to decline the comparative adjective.

    Mluvím s lepší kamarád.
    Mluvím s lepším kamarádem.

    Comparative adjectives are still adjectives! They must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case, following the soft adjective declension pattern.

  • Using 'více' (more) instead of the comparative suffix.

    Tento film je více zajímavý.
    Tento film je zajímavější.

    Learners often mimic the English 'more + adjective' structure. In Czech, the suffix form (-ější) is the usual comparative. 'Více' + adjective exists (for example with adjectives from participles, or for contrast) but sounds heavier, so prefer 'zajímavější'.

  • Using 'jak' instead of 'než' for 'than'.

    Je vyšší jak já.
    Je vyšší než já.

    While 'jak' is used for equal comparisons ('as tall as') and in some colloquial dialects, standard Czech requires 'než' when using comparative adjectives.

How It Connects

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Comparative adjectivesLevel 2

Learn This First

To form and use comparative adjectives, a learner must first understand the system of grammatical gender in Czech (masculine, feminine, and neuter), as the comparative endings change to agree with the noun being described.

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