The superlative form of an adjective has tow degrees: superlative of superiority (e.g. “the most expensive”) and superlative of inferiority (e.g. “the least expensive”). Both in Persian and English, there is no morphological way to construct the superlative of inferiority. In Persian, it is often expressed with the superior degree of an opposite adjective (e.g. “cheapest”).
- This is the least expensive car on our list
- این ارزانترین خودروی فهرست ماست
⟨in arzântarin xodrow-ye fehrest-e mâ’st ⟩
ارزان (“cheap”) is the opposite of گران (“expensive”)
ارزان is not the only antonym of گران. There are other antonyms that can be used in the above example.
- کمهزینهترین
⟨kamhazinetarin⟩ - کمبهاترین
⟨kambahâtarin⟩ - کمقیمتترین
⟨kamǧeymattarin⟩
In fact, a common pattern to express the superlative of inferiority is to use an adjective that derives from the prefix کم (“kam”: little). For example, کمهزینه means “having little cost” and کمهزینهترین means “having the least cost”.
In the following example, the adjective کمآسیب means “causing little damage” and its superlative of superiority کمآسیبترین literally means “causing the least damage”.
- The least damaging power source is also the most expensive
کمآسیبترین منبع انرژی، گرانترین نیز هست
⟨kamâsibtarin manbaø-e enerži, gerântarin niz hast⟩
In the following example, the adjective کمخطر means “having little danger” and its superlative of superiority کمخطرترین literally means “having the least danger”.
- کمخطرترین ورزش رزمی کدام است؟
⟨kamxatartarin varzeš-e razmi kodâm ast?⟩
Which is the least dangerous martial art?