Arabic uses one pattern, af3al, for both "bigger" and "the biggest". It doesn't change for gender or number.
Making the comparative
Take the three root letters of the adjective and put them into a_ _a_:
| Adjective | Comparative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| كبير kbiir | أكبر akbar | bigger |
| زغير zghiir | أزغر azghar | smaller |
| حلو 7ilu | أحلى a7la | nicer |
| منيح mnii7 | أحسن a7san | better |
| غالي ghaali | أغلى aghla | more expensive |
| رخيص rkhiis | أرخص arkhas | cheaper |
| بعيد b3iid | أبعد ab3ad | further |
mnii7 (good) takes a7san, from a different root.
"Than" is min
- بيروت أكبر من صيداbeirut akbar min saidaBeirut is bigger than Sidon.
- هيّي أطول منهhiyye atwal minnoShe's taller than him.
- هادا أرخص من هداكhaada arkhas min hadaakThis one is cheaper than that one.
The superlative: before the noun
Put the comparative before a noun to mean "the most":
- أكبر بيتakbar beitthe biggest house
- أحسن مطعم بالبلدa7san mat3am bil-baladthe best restaurant in town
Or on its own with il-: huwwe il-a7san (he's the best).
Adjectives without the pattern
Longer adjectives and participles use aktar (more) after the adjective:
- مبسوط أكترmabsuut aktarhappier