Migliore and Meglio: The Difference Explained

Meglio and migliore are two words that students frequently mix up. 

The reason for this is that meglio means “better”, and migliore means both “best” and “better” and this causes a little confusion when translating from English. 

In Italian we can’t draw a division between best and better, like English. Instead we have to consider the word’s function in the sentence, when deciding whether to use migliore or meglio.

How to use migliore

Migliore is an adjective, and as a result is used in conjunction with a noun.  When migliore comes before a singular noun, the last-e is dropped (it’s just a phonetic adjustment). 

• il mio miglior amico vive a Londra – my best (adjective) friend lives in London
• i miei migliori studenti viaggiano spesso in Italia – my best (adjective) students often travel to Italy
• Quelle fragranze sono le migliori – those fragrances are the best (adjective)!
• il riposo è la miglior medicina contro lo stress – resting is the best (adjective) medicine again the stress

It’s worth noting that because migliore is an adjective, it can be singular, plural, masculine, or feminine. 

Migliore is also used in comparative sentences, such as when comparing one thing to another in English  Migliore means “better than” in this context. 

• Questo vino è migliore di quello – This wine is better than (adjective) the other 
• La lezione di oggi è migliore di quella ieri – Today’s lesson is better than (adjective) yesterday’s 

Because it refers to a noun, migliore is also used as an adjective in these comparative sentences. 

How to use meglio

Meglio is an adverb, and as the definition suggests, it follows verbs. Often meglio appears in comparative sentences too. In this case, it means better…than. Unlike migliore, meglio is invariable, so it never changes

• Se non hai capito questo argomento, studiarlo meglio – If you didn’t understand this topic, study it better (adverb) 
• Martina sa cucinare meglio di Serena – Martina can cook better than (adverb) Serena 
• E’ meglio studiare un poco ogni giorno che studiare tanto una volta settimana – It is better (adverb) to study a little every day than to study a lot once a week
• Conosco meglio Roma che Napoli – I know better (adverb) Rome than Naples 

Peggiore and peggio 

Peggiore and peggio are the antonyms of migliore and meglio. The same rules for migliore and meglio apply.

• Questo è il peggior vino che abbia mai bevuto – this is the worst (adjective) wine I’ve ever drunk 
• Capisco peggio lo spagnolo che il francese – I understand Spanish worse (adverb) than French 

Conclusion: Because both migliore and meglio mean better, this causes some confusion among my students who speak English as their first language. As a result, it’s critical to consider the word’s grammatical function in sentences rather than looking for a direct translation.