smalere

Smalere is the comparative form of the adjective smal, meaning narrow or not wide, and is used in Norwegian and Danish to indicate that something is more narrow than something else. The word can describe physical dimensions, such as width or passage space, as well as metaphorical narrowness, like a narrower range of options or a more restricted focus.

In grammar, smalere is formed by adding the comparative suffix -ere to the stem smal. It is used in affirmative, comparative constructions, typically with a following phrase such as enn or som to complete the comparison, for example, den veien er smalere enn den andre or denne tidsrammen er smalere enn planlagt. Like other comparatives, smalere agrees in sense with the noun it modifies and appears before the rest of the predicate in the sentence structure.

Etymologically, smalere derives from the adjective smal and its common Scandinavian comparative pattern with -ere. The term is widely understood in everyday language when discussing dimensions, architecture, roads, or any context where relative width matters. While largely synonymous with “narrower,” it carries the same broad range of applications as the positive form smal, extending from concrete measurements to more abstract limitations.

See also: narrow, width, breadth, comparative adjectives in Scandinavian languages.