maior/menor

Age Comparatives

Level 3

In Portuguese, maior and menor are primarily used for legal status (being 'of age' or a 'minor'). For comparing the ages of siblings or friends, you should use mais velho (older) and mais novo (younger).

How It Works

While maior and menor are the irregular comparative forms of grande (big) and pequeno (small), their use regarding age is specific:

  • Legal Status: This is the primary use. Maior de idade refers to an adult (18+), and menor de idade refers to a minor. In colloquial Brazilian speech, you may hear 'de maior' or 'de menor', but these are considered non-standard solecisms and should be avoided in formal writing or in European Portuguese.
  • Age vs. Size: Unlike Spanish, you should not use irmão maior to mean 'older brother'; a native speaker will likely think you mean your 'taller' or 'bigger' brother. To talk about age hierarchy, use mais velho (older) or mais novo (younger).
  • Specific Differences: When stating a specific age gap (e.g., 'three years older'), you cannot use maior. You must say três anos mais velho.

Agreement: These forms are invariable for gender but change for number: filhos maiores, filhas menores.

Examples (4)

  1. Ele ainda não pode entrar no clube porque é menor de idade.

    He can't enter the club yet because he is a minor.

    Word by Word: He yet not can enter in-the club because is lesser of age.

    This is the standard, formal way to describe someone's legal status as a minor.

  2. Minha irmã já é maior de idade e mora sozinha.

    My sister is already of age and lives alone.

    Word by Word: My sister already is greater of age and lives alone.

    Using 'maior de idade' is the correct way to indicate someone has reached legal adulthood.

  3. Eu sou cinco anos mais velho que o meu irmão.

    I am five years older than my brother.

    Word by Word: I am five years more old than the my brother.

    When specifying a number of years, you must use mais velho instead of 'maior'.

  4. Eles têm dois filhos menores.

    They have two underage children.

    Word by Word: They have two sons lessers.

    Note how 'menores' pluralizes to agree with 'filhos' in a legal or formal context.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'mais maior' or 'mais menor'.

    Meu irmão é mais maior que eu.
    Meu irmão é maior que eu.

    Since 'maior' and 'menor' are already comparative forms, adding 'mais' is redundant and grammatically incorrect, similar to saying 'more better' in English.

  • Confusing age with physical size.

    O vovô é o maior da família.
    O vovô é o mais velho da família.

    While 'maior' can mean older, using it for elderly people sounds like you are talking about their physical size or height. Use 'mais velho' for general age.

How It Connects

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

maior/menorLevel 3Age Comparatives

Learn This First

To use 'maior' and 'menor' for age, learners must first understand the general concept of irregular comparatives in Portuguese. They also need to be familiar with the basic way to express age using the verb 'ter' and the standard comparative structures used to compare qualities between two people or things.

Words in This Pattern

maiormenormenor