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mejor

me-HOR/meˈxoɾ/

better

Also: nicer, superior
A hand choosing a shiny red apple over a simple green one, representing the concept of 'better'.

📝 In Action

Este café es mejor que el de ayer.

A1

This coffee is better than yesterday's.

Tengo una idea mejor para el proyecto.

A2

I have a better idea for the project.

La vida en el campo es mucho mejor.

B1

Life in the countryside is much better.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • una calidad mejor – a better quality
  • un futuro mejor – a better future

better

One person singing beautifully and another singing poorly, showing the difference in how an action is performed.

📝 In Action

Ella cocina mejor que yo.

A2

She cooks better than me.

Con estas gafas veo mucho mejor.

A2

With these glasses I see much better.

Si estudias más, entenderás mejor.

B1

If you study more, you will understand better.

Word Connections

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • sentirse mejor – to feel better
  • hacerlo mejor – to do it better
  • dormir mejor – to sleep better
A winner on a first-place podium holding a trophy, representing the concept of 'the best'.

📝 In Action

Es el mejor restaurante de la ciudad.

A2

It's the best restaurant in the city.

Mis mejores amigos viven cerca.

A2

My best friends live nearby.

De todos, ella es la que canta mejor.

B1

Of everyone, she is the one who sings best.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • el mejor amigo / la mejor amiga – best friend
  • la mejor opción – the best option
  • en el mejor de los casos – in the best-case scenario

rather, instead

AdverbB1informal
A person choosing a sunny path over a stormy one, illustrating the idea of choosing one thing 'rather' than another.

📝 In Action

Está lloviendo. Mejor nos quedamos en casa.

B1

It's raining. We'd better stay home. (Literally: Rather, we stay home.)

No, gracias, no quiero postre. Mejor un café.

B1

No, thanks, I don't want dessert. I'd rather have a coffee.

Mejor no hablemos de eso.

B2

Let's not talk about that. (Literally: Better we don't talk about that.)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • más bien (rather)
  • preferiblemente (preferably)

Idioms & Expressions

  • mejor dicho – Used to correct yourself, like saying 'or rather' or 'I mean'.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mejor" in Spanish:

best→better→instead→nicer→rather→superior→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mejor

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly says 'This movie is better than the book'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
mejorar(to improve, to get better) — Verb
mejora(improvement) — Noun
mejoría(improvement (especially in health)) — Noun
inmejorable(unbeatable, can't be improved) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'meliōrem', which was the comparative form of 'bonus', meaning 'good'. So, it literally meant 'more good' from the very beginning.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: melhorFrench: meilleurItalian: migliore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'mejor' and 'bueno'?

'Bueno' means 'good'. 'Mejor' means 'better'. Think of it this way: if something is 'bueno', something else can be 'mejor'. You use 'mejor' to compare things.

Why can't I just say 'más bueno' for 'better'?

You can think of 'mejor' as a special contraction of 'más bueno'. Spanish has these unique words for comparisons, like 'peor' for 'más malo' (worse). Using 'mejor' is much more natural and correct for comparing quality. While you might hear 'más bueno' sometimes, it's often used to mean 'kinder' when talking about a person, not 'better' in quality.

How do I know if 'mejor' means 'better' or 'best'?

Look for the little words 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' right before it. If you see them, it means 'the best'. For example, 'un coche mejor' is 'a better car', but 'el mejor coche' is 'the best car'.

What's the difference between 'mejor' and 'mejorar'?

'Mejor' is the description ('better' or 'best'). 'Mejorar' is the action ('to improve' or 'to get better'). For example, 'Mi español es mejor ahora' (My Spanish is better now) vs. 'Quiero mejorar mi español' (I want to improve my Spanish).