Superlative forms are used to express something/someone's superiority or inferiority on all else = the most / the least [adjective]; the [adjective]-est.
Here are some examples of superlatives of adjectives in French:
Patrick est le plus courageux.
Patrick is the bravest.
Marie est la plus courageuse.
Marie is the bravest.
Bruno et Gary sont les plus bavards.
Bruno and Gary are the chattiest.
Catherine et Julie sont les plus bavardes.
Catherine and Julie are the chattiest.
Ce camion est le moins cher.
This truck is the least expensive.
Ma maison est la moins chère.
My house is the least expensive one.
De tous mes amis, Léo et Lucie sont les moins bavards.
Out of all my friends, Léo and Lucie are the least chatty.
To form the Superlative of adjectives in French, you will follow this pattern:
definite article (le/la/les) + plus/moins + [adjective]
ATTENTION:
Both the definite article and the adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.
See also these related Superlative lessons:
Le plus and le moins = the most and the least (superlative of adverbs)
Forming the superlative of adjectives in complex cases
And Comparative structures:
Plus... plus..., moins... moins... = the more...the more..., the less...the less... (comparisons with phrases)
Better and better, worse and worse = de mieux en mieux, de pire en pire (comparisons)
De plus en plus and de moins en moins = more and more and less and less (comparisons with adjectives, adverbs, verbs)
De plus en plus de and de moins en moins de = more and more and less and less (comparisons of nouns)
Making comparisons with adjectives: plus... que, aussi... que, moins... que
Making comparisons with adverbs: plus... que, aussi... que, moins... que
Making comparisons with verbs: plus que, autant que, moins que
Making comparisons with nouns: plus de... que, moins de... que, autant de... que
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Marie est la plus courageuse.
Marie is the bravest.
Ses parents sont les plus gentils !
Their parents are the nicest!
Ce camion est le moins cher.
This truck is the least expensive.
Patrick est le plus courageux.
Patrick is the bravest.
"Superlatives" by Jacqueline Doiron (FrenchByPhone.com)
De tous mes amis, Léo et Lucie sont les moins bavards.
Out of all my friends, Léo and Lucie are the least chatty.
Nous sommes les plus jeunes.
We are the youngest.
Bruno et Gary sont les plus bavards.
Bruno and Gary are the chattiest.
Ma maison est la moins chère.
My house is the least expensive one.
Catherine et Julie sont les plus bavardes.
Catherine and Julie are the chattiest.
Mon fils est le plus intelligent.
My son is the most intelligent / cleverest.
Michael
Kwiziq community member
30 October 2017
3 replies
Un stéréotype
C'est un stéréotype qu'une fille est jugé à la beauté, alors que le garçon est jugé à son intelligence. Un exemple meilleure: "Ma maison est la moins moche." C'est un défaut que vous devez corriger. Oui?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
31 October 2017
31/10/17
Ron
Kwiziq community member
2 November 2017
2/11/17
Jack
Kwiziq community member
13 January 2019
13/01/19
Bravo Ron. Let's not let PC spoil the language. Otherwise nouns could not have a gender!