How do you say than in Spanish?

In most comparisons, than is que: más grande que (bigger than). Before numbers use de: más de diez (more than ten). Before clauses use de lo que: mejor de lo que pensé (better than I thought).

When do you use de instead of que for than?

Use de before numbers (más de cinco) and before subordinate clauses where you compare to an abstract idea (de lo que, del que, de la que).

What is the difference between más que and más de?

Más que means more than in direct comparisons between two things. Más de is used before numbers or quantities to indicate exceeding an amount.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Than in Spanish: Que vs. De in Comparisons

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Que · conjunction · keh

Than in Spanish is usually que, used in comparative structures like más... que (more... than) and menos... que (less... than). Before numbers, de replaces que, and before subordinate clauses, del que / de la que / de lo que are used.

keh (que) · deh (de)

Mi hermano es más alto que yo.

My brother is taller than me.

Than in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for than, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
que	than	keh	Default, widely understood
de	than		before numbers or clauses with a noun antecedent
del que / de la que	than		before clauses

How Native Speakers Use Que

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Basic comparison

Este libro es más interesante que el otro.

This book is more interesting than the other one.

Más + adjective + que is the standard comparative structure.

Before a number

Tengo más de veinte libros en español.

I have more than twenty books in Spanish.

Before quantities or numbers, de replaces que.

Before a clause

Es más difícil de lo que pensaba.

It's harder than I thought.

De lo que is used when comparing to an idea or clause (what I thought).

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Que

Using que before numbers

Incorrect: Hay más que cien personas aquí.

Correct: Hay más de cien personas aquí.

Before numbers and quantities, Spanish uses de, not que. Más de cien = more than a hundred.

Omitting lo in clause comparisons

Incorrect: Es mejor de que esperaba.

Correct: Es mejor de lo que esperaba.

When than introduces a clause, you need de lo que (neuter), de la que (feminine), or del que (masculine) depending on what is being compared.

Lock in Than Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

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See Que used by native speakers

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Common Questions About Than in Spanish

How do you say than in Spanish?: In most comparisons, than is que: más grande que (bigger than). Before numbers use de: más de diez (more than ten). Before clauses use de lo que: mejor de lo que pensé (better than I thought).
When do you use de instead of que for than?: Use de before numbers (más de cinco) and before subordinate clauses where you compare to an abstract idea (de lo que, del que, de la que).
What is the difference between más que and más de?: Más que means more than in direct comparisons between two things. Más de is used before numbers or quantities to indicate exceeding an amount.