In Russian, superlatives are forms of adjectives and adverbs that are used to compare something to more than one thing, person, or action. Here are some examples of English superlatives:
- superlative adjectiveKatie is the tallest among us.
- superlative adverbOf all my friends, Katie plays outside the most frequently.
In this post we are going to look at how to say the sentences like the ones above in Russian. Follow me!
What are superlatives in Russian?
Superlatives are used to describe something with the greatest or least amount of a given characteristic. In Russian, there are two ways to make superlatives:
The simple form → made by adding suffixes and prefixes to the adjective base.
The compound form → made by using other words before or after adjectives and adverbs.
Adjectives may have both forms of superlatives, while adverbs can only have compound forms.
How to make a simple form of superlatives?
Only adjectives in Russian have a simple superlative form. They are made by adding suffixes -ейш- transcribed yeysh or -айш- transcribed aysh to the adjective base.
| Suffix | Adjective | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
-ейш- | вкусный Transcription: FKOOSnyi Translation: tasty | вкуснейший Transcription: fkoosNYEYshyi Translation: the tastiest |
скорый Transcription: SKOryi Translation: speedy | скорейший Transcription: skaRYEYshyi Translation: the speediest | |
важный Transcription: VAZHnyi Translation: important | важнейший Transcription: vazhNYEYshyi Translation: the most important | |
consonant change + -айш- | глубокий Transcription: glooBOkiy Translation: deep | глубочайший Transcription: gloobaCHAYshyi Translation: the deepest |
тихий Transcription: TEEkhiy Translation: quiet | тишайший Transcription: teeSHAYshyi Translation: the quietest | |
строгий Transcription: STROgiy Translation: strict | строжайший Transcription: straZHAYshyi Translation: the strictest |
In addition to the suffixes, the prefix наи- transcribed nai can be added to the simple superlative form to make the meaning of an adjective even more intense, for instance:
наиважнейший transcribed naivazhNYEYshyimeaning the absolute most important
наилучший transcribed naiLOOCHshyimeaning the absolute best
Like other adjectives, simple superlatives take endings, depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun being described. Look at this example:
How to make compound superlatives in Russian?
In Russian, compound superlative adjectives and adverbs are much more common in everyday speech than simple ones. They are made by putting other words before or after adjectives and adverbs. Thus, the following structures are possible:
- самыйTranscription: SAmyiTranslation: most
adjective
Это самый интересный музей в городе.Transcription: Eta SAmyi intiRYESnyi mooZYEY v GOradye.Translation: This is the most interesting museum in town.nominative singular masculineЭтот район считается самым опасным.Transcription: Etat raYON shchiTAitsa SAmym aPASnym.Translation: This area is considered the most dangerous.instrumental singular masculineThis way of forming compound superlatives is neutral in style and works only with adjectives.
- наиболее / наименееTranscription: naiBOliye / naiMYEniyeTranslation: most / least
adjective / adverb
Эта ситуация казалась наименее возможной.Transcription: Eta sitooAtsiya kaZAlas naiMYEniye vazMOZHnay.Translation: This situation seemed the least possible.The adjective takes an instrumental singular feminine ending.Роза наиболее продуктивно работает в одиночку.Transcription: ROza naiBOliye pradookTEEVna raBOtayet v adiNOCHkoo.Translation: Rosa works most effectively alone.This kind of compound superlative is most found in writing or more formal language. Adjectives agree with nouns in gender, number, and case, while the words наиболее / наименее and adverbs do not.
simple comparative
всего / всехTranscription: fsiVO / fsyekhTranslation: than anything / than anyoneБольше всего я люблю шоколадное мороженое.Transcription: BOLshe fsiVO ya lyubLYU shakaLADnaye maROzhynaye.Translation: I like chocolate ice cream more than anything.Быстрее всего туда можно добраться на самолёте.Transcription: bystRYEye fsiVO tooDA MOZHna dabRAtsa na samaLYOtye.Translation: The fastest way to get there is by plane.Павел сегодня играет лучше всех.Transcription: PAvyel siVOdnya igRAyet LOOCHshe fsyekh.Translation: Pavel is playing better than anyone today.Remember that simple comparatives in Russian are forms of adjectives and adverbs which show that a characteristic is more intense in one object compared to another, e.g. сильнее transcribed silNYEyemeaning stronger or ниже transcribed NEEzhemeaning lower. So this group of superlatives are a bit like saying “stronger than anyone” or “bigger than anything.”
This is the kind of superlative that is most popular in everyday speech. The words in this structure never change, which makes it probably the easiest to use.
How to use superlatives in Russian?
The compound forms of superlatives in Russian are used the same way they are in English, that is, to signal that something has the most or the least of a quality out of a group. For example:
In modern Russian, the simple forms of superlatives are usually used more figuratively. They show that someone just has an impressive or outstanding amount of a quality. So, you aren’t really making a comparison, and it’s more like how you’d use “very” + adjective in English. For example:
- У меня тогда была сильнейшая простуда.Transcription: oo miNYA tagDA byLA silNYEYshaya prasTOOda.Translation: I had a very bad cold then.Literally: …the strongest cold…
- Мой профессор - умнейший и добрейший человек.Transcription: moy praFYEsar oomNYEYshyi i dabRYEYshyi chilaVYEK.Translation: My professor is a very smart and very kind person.Literally: …the smartest and kindest person.
Simple forms of superlative adjectives can also be found in many set phrases, such as…
- в скорейшего времяTranscription: v bliZHAYsheye VRYEmyaTranslation: in the nearest future; shortly; anytime soon
- желаем скорейшего выздоровленияTranscription: zheLAyem skaRYEYshyva vyzdaravLYEniyaTranslation: we wish you a speedy recovery
- дальнейшие шагиTranscription: dalNYEYshyie shaGEETranslation: further steps; way forward
- к моему величайшему изумлениюTranscription: k maiMOO vyeliCHAYshymoo izoomLYEniyuTranslation: to my utter surprise
Conclusion
We have looked at how to make and use superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs in Russian. Here are the take-away points:
Short forms of superlatives are made with suffixes -ейш- and -айш-.
Compound forms of superlatives can be made following one of the following patterns:
самый transcribed SAmyimeaning most + adjective
наиболее transcribed naiBOliyemeaning most / наименее transcribed naiMYEniyemeaning least + adjective/adverb
comparative adjective/adverb + всего transcribed fsiVOmeaning of all / than anything / всех transcribed fsyekhmeaning of all / than anyone
Here are some basic rules to remember about when to use different superlatives:
Always use compound superlatives for adverbs.
Always use compound superlatives to say “the most / the least” in a real comparison.
Use simple superlatives to say “very.”
Use simple superlatives in set phrases.
Ready for some practice? Download the activities below!
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