This French 2 lesson explains French superlatives step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French superlatives and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: French forms the superlative with the definite article, plus or moins, and the adjective: le plus grand, la moins chère. Article and adjective agree with the noun, and the group is introduced by de, du or de la, never dans. Bon becomes le meilleur, and bien becomes le mieux.
Level: French 2 (high school, ACTFL Novice High) · Standards: ACTFL Novice High, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational
French superlatives: the lesson
What is a superlative in French?
Definition
A superlative picks one person or thing as the top or the bottom of a group: the tallest, the least expensive, the best. French builds it from the definite article + plus (most) or moins (least) + an adjective.
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| Singular, most | le plus cher | la plus chère |
| Plural, most | les plus chers | les plus chères |
| Singular, least | le moins cher | la moins chère |
| Plural, least | les moins chers | les moins chères |
Where does the superlative go in the sentence?
Rule: position follows the adjective
The adjective keeps its usual place. If it normally follows the noun, the article appears twice. If it normally comes before the noun (beau, joli, petit, grand, bon, jeune, vieux, nouveau), the article appears once.
Examples
- C’est le film le plus drôle du festival. — It’s the funniest film at the festival.
- Sofia porte les baskets les moins chères du magasin. — Sofia is wearing the cheapest sneakers in the store.
- Voici le plus grand stade de Dakar. — Here is the biggest stadium in Dakar.
- Nina est la plus jeune de la troupe. — Nina is the youngest in the troupe.
How do you say “in the class” or “of the team”?
After a superlative, English “in” or “of” becomes de, contracted with the article: du lycée, de la classe, de l’équipe, des filles. Example: Koffi est le plus rapide des garçons. — Koffi is the fastest of the boys.
How do you say “the best”?
| Word | Superlative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bon (adjective) | le meilleur, la meilleure, les meilleurs, les meilleures | the best |
| bien (adverb) | le mieux (never changes) | the best, the most skillfully |
| bon, negative | le moins bon | the least good |
Awa est la meilleure danseuse du club. Elle danse le mieux. — Awa is the best dancer in the club. She dances the best.
Common mistake
English speakers write le plus meilleur or dans la classe. Meilleur already means “best”, so it needs no plus, and “in” is de after a superlative.
Culture note
The Mont Blanc, about 4,800 meters high, is le plus haut sommet des Alpes. Skiers in Chamonix use that exact superlative on postcards.
Zoé’s tip
Ask where the adjective sits. If it sits after the noun, say the article twice, like an echo: la fille la plus drôle.
Key points to remember
- Pattern: le / la / les + plus or moins + adjective.
- An adjective that follows the noun makes the article appear twice: le film le plus drôle.
- Short adjectives that precede the noun take one article: le plus grand stade.
- In or of a group is de, du, de la, de l’ or des, never dans.
- Bon gives le meilleur; the adverb bien gives le mieux, which never changes.
The Best, the Most, the Least: Superlatives: frequently asked questions
How do you form the superlative in French?
Use the definite article, plus or moins, and the adjective: le plus grand, la moins chère. The article and the adjective agree with the noun in gender and number.
Why does the article appear twice in le film le plus drôle?
The adjective drôle follows the noun, so the article is repeated before plus. When the adjective precedes the noun, as in le plus grand stade, the article appears only once.
How do you say “in the class” after a superlative?
Use de contracted with the article: de la classe, du lycée, de l’équipe, des élèves. French never uses dans after a superlative.
What is the difference between le meilleur and le mieux?
Le meilleur is the superlative of the adjective bon and agrees with the noun: la meilleure équipe. Le mieux is the superlative of the adverb bien and stays invariable: elle chante le mieux.
Can you say le plus meilleur?
No. Meilleur already means “best”, so adding plus is a mistake. Say le meilleur, or le moins bon for “the least good”.