An ordinary adjective names a quality, whereas ism al-tafḍīl indicates a greater degree of that quality.
Word / formMeaning / explanation
كَبِيرٌbig, with no comparison necessarily expressed.
أَكْبَرُbigger or greater.
صَغِيرٌsmall.
أَصْغَرُsmaller.
In context the same morphological class can express a superlative (“greatest/smallest”). Translation therefore depends on whether a particular comparison or the highest degree is intended.
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Ism al-Tafḍīl: Meaning, Eight Forms, Patterns and Use
An ordinary adjective names a quality, whereas ism al-tafḍīl indicates a greater degree of that quality.
Word / formMeaning / explanation
كَبِيرٌbig, with no comparison necessarily expressed.
أَكْبَرُbigger or greater.
صَغِيرٌsmall.
أَصْغَرُsmaller.
In context the same morphological class can express a superlative (“greatest/smallest”). Translation therefore depends on whether a particular comparison or the highest degree is intended.