más

Más is a Spanish word used as an adverb and as a determiner to express greater extent, quantity, or intensity. It commonly appears to mean “more” or “additional,” as in “Quiero más pan” (I want more bread) or “Más rápido” (faster). It also forms the comparative and superlative constructions, such as “más grande” (bigger) and “el más alto” (the tallest). In phrases like “más de diez,” it denotes a quantity beyond a specified amount, while in “más o menos” it contributes to the meaning “more or less.”

In grammar, más can be combined with definite articles to create superlatives, for example: “la más bonita” (the most beautiful). It is a frequent degree modifier in both casual and formal Spanish usage. In arithmetic or everyday speech, people say “dos más tres” to mean “two plus three.”

Orthography and distinctions: the word is written with an acute accent—más—when it means “more.” Without the accent, mas is a rarer, archaic or literary conjunction meaning “but,” a usage largely supplanted by pero in modern Spanish. The accent helps distinguish meaning and pronunciation in contexts where both forms could appear.

Etymology: más derives from Latin magis, meaning “more.” The sense of increase or greater degree has persisted across Romance languages, with related forms such as Portuguese mais and Catalan més.

See also: nos: phrases like más allá (beyond) and más bien (preferably) illustrate its role in forming common expressions. As a versatile degree word, más remains a staple element of Spanish syntax and style.