Comparatives (größer als, mehr...als, so...wie)

Comparatives allow you to compare two things, saying that one has more of a quality than the other. German comparatives follow clear rules with some important irregular forms. This lesson covers comparative formation, usage patterns, and the key difference between unequal comparisons (größer als) and equal comparisons (so groß wie).

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Formation: Regular Comparatives

The basic rule for forming the comparative in German:

Adjective + -er

Positive	Comparative	English
klein	kleiner	smaller
schnell	schneller	faster
langsam	langsamer	slower
billig	billiger	cheaper
interessant	interessanter	more interesting
schön	schöner	more beautiful
freundlich	freundlicher	friendlier
wichtig	wichtiger	more important

Unlike English, German always adds -er — there is no equivalent of "more interesting" with a separate word. Interessanter, not mehr interessant.

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Comparatives with Umlaut

Many common one-syllable adjectives add an umlaut (ä, ö, ü) in the comparative:

Positive	Comparative	English
alt	älter	older
jung	jünger	younger
groß	größer	bigger / taller
kurz	kürzer	shorter
lang	länger	longer
stark	stärker	stronger
schwach	schwächer	weaker
kalt	kälter	colder
warm	wärmer	warmer
hart	härter	harder
arm	ärmer	poorer
klug	klüger	smarter
dumm	dümmer	dumber
krank	kränker	sicker
gesund	gesünder	healthier

Note: Not all one-syllable adjectives take an umlaut. For example: bunt → bunter (not bünter), schlank → schlanker (not schlänker). The umlaut-taking adjectives must be memorised, but the list above covers the most common ones.

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Irregular Comparatives

A few adjectives have completely irregular comparative forms:

Positive	Comparative	English
gut	besser	better
viel	mehr	more
gern(e)	lieber	rather / more gladly
hoch	höher	higher
nah(e)	näher	nearer / closer

These must be memorised. They are among the most frequently used adjectives in German.

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Comparison Structures

1. Unequal Comparison: Adjective-er + als

To say one thing has more of a quality than another:

comparative + als (than)

Example	Translation
Berlin ist größer als München.	Berlin is bigger than Munich.
Mein Bruder ist älter als ich.	My brother is older than I am.
Dieses Buch ist interessanter als das andere.	This book is more interesting than the other one.
Er läuft schneller als sie.	He runs faster than she does.
Deutsch ist schwieriger als Englisch.	German is harder than English.

Important: German uses als for "than" (not wie or dass).

2. Equal Comparison: so + Adjective + wie

To say two things have the same amount of a quality:

so + positive adjective + wie (as...as)

Example	Translation
Berlin ist so groß wie Hamburg. — (not really true, but for illustration)	Berlin is as big as Hamburg.
Er ist so alt wie ich.	He is as old as I am.
Dieses Restaurant ist so gut wie das andere.	This restaurant is as good as the other one.
Sie singt so schön wie eine Nachtigall.	She sings as beautifully as a nightingale.

3. Negative Equal Comparison: nicht so + Adjective + wie