Vocabulary #012

još or više?

(More of something …)

I am often confused when I want to say ‘more’ in the Croatian language. Još or više?
 
This post is about when we want to talk about more of something (more apples, or more flour, or more people, ……).

This is different from the use of the words još and više in the context of time– which I talk about in another post (Vocabulary #013 Još or više: Time-related).

In a nutshell .....

Here is my simplified take on the difference:

• još means ‘more’ or ‘additional’, in an absolute sense.
• više means ‘more’ in a comparative sense.

 
Looking for clues? The comparative nature of više means that word is used when the English equivalent uses, or implies use of, the comparative word than.

A note: In the video, I translated "Sto još" as 'What next!?' Another, perhaps better translation is 'What else!?'

Self check

So, you now understand when to use the words još and više (when we are referring to the amount of something), don’t you?
Would you like to test yourself? Translate the following sentences into Croatian. (Answers are below. No peeking until you have had a try ….)
 

​ 

1. You gave her three more cakes than (you gave to) me.
2. I would like to buy some more bread.
3. If I find three more seashells, I will have more than anybody else.

 

Self-check translations:

1. You gave her three more cakes than (you gave to) me.

            Dao si joj tri kolaća više nego meni.

1. I would like to buy some more bread.

            Želio bih kupiti još kruha.

1. If I find three more seashells, I will have the most (more than anybody else).

            Ako nađem još tri školjke, imat ću više od svih.