-ísimo
Absolute Superlative -ísimo
-ísimo turns an adjective into "very" or "extremely" + adjective: caro → carísimo (very expensive), moito → moitísimo (very much).
How It Works
Forming it. Remove the final vowel of the adjective and add -ísimo: alto → altísimo, grande → grandísimo, caro → carísimo. Adjectives ending in a consonant add it directly: fácil → facilísimo. The ending agrees like any adjective: unha casa carísima, uns zapatos carísimos.
Always an accent. The stress falls on the í of the suffix, three syllables from the end, so -ísimo always carries a written accent, and any accent on the base word disappears: rápido → rapidísimo, fácil → facilísimo.
Spelling changes. Keep the consonant sound before i: rico → riquísimo, longo → longuísimo, feliz → felicísimo. Adjectives in -ble always become -bilísimo: amable → amabilísimo. A few use an older learned stem: antigo → antiquísimo, fiel → fidelísimo.
Adverbs and quantity words. It also works with some adverbs and quantifiers: moito → moitísimo, pouco → pouquísimo, tarde → tardísimo.
Register. The official norms describe -ísimo as usually felt to belong to a more elevated style, so for many adjectives moi + adjective is the more everyday choice: moi caro and carísimo both mean very expensive. Forms such as moitísimo are still very common in speech. Very formal writing also has a few forms in -érrimo, such as paupérrimo (extremely poor) and celebérrimo (extremely famous).
Not a comparison. -ísimo does not compare anything. To say "the most ... in a group", use the superlative with o máis: o máis alto da clase.
Examples (6)
- Este restaurante é carísimo.
This restaurant is extremely expensive.
Word by Word: This restaurant is expensive-very.
- Gustoume moitísimo o concerto.
I liked the concert very, very much.
Word by Word: Pleased-me much-very the concert.
- Chegamos tardísimo á estación.
We got to the station extremely late.
Word by Word: Arrived-we late-very to-the station.
- A sopa estaba riquísima.
The soup was really delicious.
Word by Word: The soup was tasty-very.
Rico becomes riquísimo: qu keeps the k sound before i.
- Os avós son amabilísimos con todos.
The grandparents are extremely kind to everyone.
Word by Word: The grandparents are kind-very with all.
Adjectives in -ble always form -bilísimo.
- O exame foi facilísimo.
The exam was really easy.
Word by Word: The exam was easy-very.
Common Mistakes
Putting moi in front of -ísimo.
Este restaurante é moi carísimo.Este restaurante é carísimo.-ísimo already means very. Choose one: moi caro or carísimo.
Losing the k sound before i.
A sopa estaba ricísima.A sopa estaba riquísima.Before i, c is not pronounced like k. Write qu to keep the sound of rico.
Using the Spanish form.
Gustoume muchísimo.Gustoume moitísimo.Build the form from the Galician word moito, not from Spanish mucho.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The suffix -ísimo expresses a high degree and agrees with its noun.
Related Patterns
- o máis + Adjective + deSuperlatives
The relative superlative compares within a group, which -ísimo does not do.
Level 2 - ben + AdjectiveBen as an Intensifier
Another way to intensify an adjective in everyday speech.
Level 4 - mellor / peor / maior / menorIrregular Comparatives
Irregular comparatives of common adjectives.
Level 2 - -iño / -iñaDiminutives in -iño and -iña
Another suffix that adds feeling to adjectives and adverbs.
Level 3
Practice -ísimo in Bubblegum
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