Language/Amharic/Grammar/Comparatives-and-Superlatives

Amharic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives and Superlatives are quite useful in any language. In Amharic, they are created using specific structures known to native speakers. In this lesson, you will learn how to make comparisons and express the highest degree of a quality using comparatives and superlatives in Amharic.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Common Amharic Idioms & Prepositions and Conjunctions.

Formation of Comparatives

In Amharic, comparatives are formed by adding a suffix to the adjective. Below are the most common suffixes used in creating comparatives:

• -ብቻ (-becha)
• -ብር (-bir)
• -ማ (-ma)

Using -ብቻ (-becha)

The suffix -ብቻ (-becha) is used to create comparatives for adjectives that have two syllables or more. To create a comparative using this suffix, remove the last vowel of the adjective and add -ብቻ (-becha) instead. Here are some examples:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ልጅ	Lij	Small Boy	ልጅ-ብቻ	Lij-becha	Smaller Boy
ቆሎ	Kollo	Big	ቆሎ-ብቻ	Kollo-becha	Bigger
ብልግግር	Biliggir	Impressive	ብልግግር-ብቻ	Biliggir-becha	More Impressive

Using -ብር (-bir)

The suffix -ብር (-bir) is used to create comparatives for adjectives that end with a vowel. To create a comparative using this suffix, add -ብር (-bir) after the adjective. Here are some examples:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ቀይ	Kya	Narrow	ቀይ-ብር	Kya-bir	Narrower
ብርቱካን	Birtukankan	Brave	ብርቱካን-ብር	Birtukankan-bir	Braver
ሸምበቆ	Shambeko	Lazy	ሸምበቆ-ብር	Shambeko-bir	Lazier

Using -ማ (-ma)

The suffix -ማ (-ma) is used to create comparatives for one-syllable adjectives. To create a comparative using this suffix, double the last consonant and add -ማ (-ma) to the end. Here are some examples:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ትርጉም	Tergum	Simple	ትርጉም-ማ	Tergum-ma	Simpler
ጅብ	Jib	Dry	ጅብ-ማ	Jib-ma	Drier
ዝንባሌ	Zenbale	Sweet	ዝንባሌ-ማ	Zenbale-ma	Sweeter

Formation of Superlatives

In Amharic, superlatives are formed using the suffix -ዋል (-wal). Here's how to form superlatives:

For adjectives that have two syllables or more, add -ዋል (-wal) to the end of the comparative form of the adjective.

For instance,

• ልጅ-ብቻ (Lij-becha) – Smaller Boy
• ልጅ-ብቻ-ዋል (Lij-becha-wal) – The Smallest Boy

For one-syllable adjectives, change the last consonant to its corresponding labialized consonant and add -ዋል (-wal) to the end.

For example,

• ዝንባለ (Zenbale) – Sweet
• ዝንባለውያን (Zenbale-wyayan) – Sweeter
• ዝንባለ-ዋል (Zenbale-wal) – The Sweetest

Vocabulary

Here are some adjectives to help you practice:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ቀይ	Kya	Narrow
ቆሎ	Kollo	Big
ልጅ	Lij	Small Boy
ማማይ	Mamay	Tall
ሰማይ	Semay	High
ሸልቆ	Shelko	Slim
ብርቱካን	Birtukankan	Brave
አፍቅር	Afkire	Loving

Here are the comparatives and superlatives:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ቀይ	Kya	Narrow
ቀይ-ብር	Kya-bir	Narrower	ቀይ-ብር-ዋል	Kya-bir-wal	The Narrowest
ቆሎ	Kollo	Big	ቆሎ-ብቻ	Kollo-becha	Bigger	ቆሎ-ብቻ-ዋል	Kollo-becha-wal	The Biggest
ልጅ	Lij	Small Boy	ልጅ-ብቻ	Lij-becha	Smaller Boy	ልጅ-ብቻ-ዋል	Lij-becha-wal	The Smallest Boy
ማማይ	Mamay	Tall	ማማይ-ብቻ	Mamay-becha	Taller	ማማይ-ብቻ-ዋል	Mamay-becha-wal	The Tallest
ሰማይ	Semay	High	ሰማይ-ብቻ	Semay-becha	Higher	ሰማይ-ብቻ-ዋል	Semay-becha-wal	The Highest
ሸልቆ	Shelko	Slim	ሸልቆ-ብቻ	Shelko-becha	Slimmer	ሸልቆ-ብቻ-ዋል	Shelko-becha-wal	The Slimmest
ብርቱካን	Birtukankan	Brave	ብርቱካን-ብር	Birtukankan-bir	Braver	ብርቱካን-ብር-ዋል	Birtukankan-bir-wal	The Bravest
አፍቅር	Afkire	Loving	አፍቅረ-ብቻ	Afkire-becha	More Loving	አፍቅረ-ብቻ-ዋል	Afkire-becha-wal	The Most Loving

Congratulations! You can now make comparisons and express the highest degree of a quality using comparatives and superlatives in Amharic!

Table of Contents - Amharic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Amharic Alphabet

• Fidel and Syllables
• Pronunciation and Phonetics

  ---

Basic Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months
• Colors and Shapes
• Family and Relationships

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Nouns and Pronouns
• Verbs and Tenses
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Prepositions and Conjunctions

  ---

Everyday Vocabulary

• Food and Drinks
• Clothing and Accessories
• Weather and Seasons
• Travel and Transportation
• Hobbies and Leisure

  ---

Intermediate Sentence Structure

• Negation and Questions
• Imperatives and Requests
• Expressing Possession
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Advanced Vocabulary

• Professions and Work
• Health and Body
• Education and Learning
• Nature and Environment
• Technology and Communication

  ---

Ethiopian Culture and Traditions

• Ethiopian Holidays and Festivals
• Ethiopian Cuisine
• Ethiopian Music and Dance
• Ethiopian History and Heritage

Other Lessons

• Direct and Indirect Object Affixes
• Nouns and Pronouns
• Expressing Possession
• The Possessive Forms (second method)
• Comparing and Contrasting
• Simple Gerundive
• Object Pronouns
• Making Suggestions Using “Let”
• The Simple Past
• Negation