Really strange finding for Más

Question

I prefer to use word magic vs the offline spanishdict app. It just seems way more complete. I love the online tutorials and help from Spanishdict more though (just being honest). I would like to say though that spanishdict offline is still better because it is free!

Anyways the reason is because of the flags they use for specific words, idioms and slang. When I look-up más however it says that 'more' is an "incorrect usage." Why might that be? It says it twice so I don't think it is a typo. I mean even if somehow it doesn't mean more, it shouldn't even be used in a slang way?

Good question Spindle! - rac1, Jun 10, 2012

Answer 1

Hi spindle

When I look-up más however it says that 'more' is an "incorrect usage."

In my opinion the above statement is correct but only in certain circumstances. I don't think it has anything to do with using the word as slang. With an adjective or an adverb it is used to compare and means more.

Más cómodo - More comfortable

Más intelegente - More intelligent

However, there adjectives or adverbs where más takes over the adding of "er" to the word which is probably to what your post refers.

Más barato - Cheaper

Más grande - Bigger

We then have where it can mean "most" used as a superlative

Su pelicula más innovadora - his most innovative film

Él es el más intelegente - He is the most intellegent

Finally

Lo más posible - As much as possible

Lo más temprano - The earliest

A lo más - At (the) most

Todo lo más - At (the) most

Good explanation and examples. - gringojrf, Jun 10, 2012

Thanks gringo - Eddy, Jun 10, 2012

Answer 2

I actually don't get it. You are saying that if I want to say bigger I cannot use más or I can?

You can use mas for bigger. I think the point is that it would not be correct to say more big in English to mean bigger. - kdrinning, Jun 11, 2012

Grande means big. Más grande means bigger. - Eddy, Jun 11, 2012