Want to make your Spanish more expressive and vibrant? Absolute superlatives are your secret weapon! They’re a fantastic way to add emphasis and show just how amazing, terrible, or extreme something is. Let’s dive in and discover how to use them like a native speaker.
What Are Absolute Superlatives?
In a nutshell, absolute superlatives are like saying something is “very, very” or “extremely” something. They’re perfect for when you want to ramp up the intensity of your descriptions.
How to Form Them: The -ísimo/a Ending
The most common way to create an absolute superlative is super easy! Just take an adjective, drop the last vowel (if it has one), and add -ísimo (for masculine words) or -ísima (for feminine words). Voila!
rico(rich) →riquísimo/a(extremely rich, delicious)grande(big) →grandísimo/a(enormous)fácil(easy) →facilísimo/a(super easy)interesante(interesting) →interesantísimo/a(incredibly interesting)
Let’s Use Them!
Here are some examples to show you how they work in real sentences:
¡La paella está riquísima!(The paella is incredibly delicious!)Hace un calorazo hoy.(It’s scorching hot today!)Ese edificio es altísimo.(That building is super tall.)Esta tarea es facilísima.(This task is a piece of cake!)
A Few Irregulars
Just like in English, there are a few exceptions to the rule. Some common adjectives have their own special superlative forms:
bueno(good) →óptimo(best)malo(bad) →pésimo(worst)grande(big) →máximo(maximum)pequeño(small) →mínimo(minimum)
Want to Go Even Further? Add an Intensifier!
Sometimes, even -ísimo/a isn’t enough to express just how extreme something is. In those cases, you can add an extra word for even more emphasis.
muy(very)super(super)extremadamente(extremely)
For example:
¡La fiesta estuvo super divertidísima!(The party was super, super fun!)
Regional Variations
Just like with any language, there are some regional differences in how people use superlatives. In some parts of Latin America, you might hear people use:
re(very)requete(extremely)
So, you might hear someone say:
¡Ese coche es re caro!(That car is really expensive!)
Beyond Adjectives
Did you know you can also use -ísimo/a with some adverbs and even nouns?
lejos(far) →lejísimos(very, very far)pronto(soon) →prontísimo(very soon)
¡A practicar!
Now it’s your turn! Start incorporating absolute superlatives into your Spanish conversations and writing. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll become. Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with them! ¡Hasta la próxima!