mejor
/me-HOR/
Just like choosing the nicer apple, 'mejor' helps you say one thing is better than another.
mejor (Adjective)
📝 In Action
Este café es mejor que el de ayer.
A1This coffee is better than yesterday's.
Tengo una idea mejor para el proyecto.
A2I have a better idea for the project.
La vida en el campo es mucho mejor.
B1Life in the countryside is much better.
💡 Grammar Points
One Form for Masculine & Feminine
'Mejor' is special because it doesn't change for masculine or feminine things. You say 'el coche mejor' (the better car) and 'la casa mejor' (the better house).
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one thing, just add '-es' to the end: 'mejores'. For example, 'Estos libros son mejores' (These books are better).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'Más Bueno'
Mistake: "Este libro es más bueno que ese."
Correction: Este libro es mejor que ese. Spanish combines 'más + bueno' (more good) into the single word 'mejor' when comparing quality.
⭐ Usage Tips
All-in-One Comparison
Think of 'mejor' as the shortcut for 'more good'. Anytime you want to say something has better quality, 'mejor' is your go-to word.
'Mejor' can also describe how you do something. Here, one person sings 'better' than the other.
mejor (Adverb)
📝 In Action
Ella cocina mejor que yo.
A2She cooks better than me.
Con estas gafas veo mucho mejor.
A2With these glasses I see much better.
Si estudias más, entenderás mejor.
B1If you study more, you will understand better.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Stays the Same
When 'mejor' describes an action (a verb), it never changes. It's always just 'mejor', no matter who is doing the action. 'Yo canto mejor', 'Ellos cantan mejor'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'Más Bien'
Mistake: "Hablo español más bien ahora."
Correction: Hablo español mejor ahora. Use 'mejor' to talk about improvement. 'Más bien' means something different, closer to 'rather' or 'actually'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placing It After The Action
To sound natural, place 'mejor' right after the action word (the verb) it's describing. For example, 'Él conduce mejor' (He drives better).
When you add 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las', 'mejor' changes from 'better' to 'the best'.
mejor (Adjective / Adverb)
📝 In Action
Es el mejor restaurante de la ciudad.
A2It's the best restaurant in the city.
Mis mejores amigos viven cerca.
A2My best friends live nearby.
De todos, ella es la que canta mejor.
B1Of everyone, she is the one who sings best.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Best' Formula
The key to saying 'the best' is to put 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' before 'mejor' (or before the thing you're describing). For example, 'el mejor día', 'la mejor película'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'El Más Bueno'
Mistake: "Este es el más bueno pastel."
Correction: Este es el mejor pastel. Just like 'better', Spanish has a special single word for 'the best'. Avoid 'el más bueno' when talking about quality.
⭐ Usage Tips
Give the Gold Medal
To give something the top prize or rank it number one, use 'el/la mejor'. It's like putting a gold medal on that person or thing.
Sometimes, 'mejor' is used to show you'd rather do one thing instead of another.
mejor (Adverb)
📝 In Action
Está lloviendo. Mejor nos quedamos en casa.
B1It's raining. We'd better stay home. (Literally: Rather, we stay home.)
No, gracias, no quiero postre. Mejor un café.
B1No, thanks, I don't want dessert. I'd rather have a coffee.
Mejor no hablemos de eso.
B2Let's not talk about that. (Literally: Better we don't talk about that.)
💡 Grammar Points
A Simple Suggestion
This 'mejor' often appears at the beginning of a sentence to suggest an alternative plan. It's a quick and easy way to say 'how about we do this instead?'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Polite Way to Change the Subject
You can use 'Mejor...' to gently change the topic of conversation. For example, 'Mejor hablemos de otra cosa' (Let's talk about something else instead).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mejor
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'This movie is better than the book'?
📚 More Resources
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).