el mejor
/el mexoɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the best" is translated into Spanish as el mejor.
The phrase refers to the highest quality or most excellent person or thing within a group.
Which one should you use?
The phrase el mejor is actually derived from the comparative form mejor, which means "better".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies or refers to. Use la mejor for feminine singular nouns, los mejores for masculine plural or mixed-gender plural groups and las mejores for groups consisting only of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/el mexoɾ/
Did you know?
- The word mejor shares a common ancestor with the English word 'ameliorate', which means to make something better.
- Spanish speakers often use lo mejor to refer to the best part of an experience or a situation rather than a specific person or object.
- In some contexts, mejor can be used as an adverb to mean 'rather' or 'instead', as in mejor me voy, meaning 'I had better leave'.
Examples in context
- Tom es el mejor.Tom is the best.This sentence shows how to use el mejor to describe a person.Tatoeba #2498868 by Shishir, translation #2273541 by CK
- Usted es el mejor.You're the best.This sentence demonstrates using el mejor to address someone directly.Tatoeba #5058616 by don_ramon, translation #1752568 by donkirkby
- El último es el mejor.The last one is the best.This sentence illustrates using el mejor to refer to a specific item.Tatoeba #2471350 by marcelostockle, translation #2439983 by CK
- Este restaurante es el mejor de la ciudad.This restaurant is the best in the city.
- Tu trabajo es la mejor presentación que he visto.Your work is the best presentation I've ever seen.
- ¡Eres el mejor amigo que alguien podría tener!You're the best friend someone could have!
- Esta es la mejor película que he visto en mucho tiempo.This is the best movie I've seen in a long time.
- 178 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about a new restaurant.
- AlejandroEste restaurante es el mejor de la ciudad.This restaurant is the best in the city.
- SofíaTienes razón, la comida es increíble.You are right, the food is incredible.
- AlejandroPara mí, el postre es el mejor.For me, the dessert is the best.
- SofíaEstoy de acuerdo contigo, Alejandro.I agree with you, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, mejor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
