-íssimo/-íssima

Absolute Superlative

Level 2

The Superlativo Absoluto Sintético adds the suffix -íssimo/a to an adjective to express a quality at its maximum intensity (e.g., caríssimo = extremely expensive).

How It Works

The absolute superlative is formed by taking the adjective's stem and adding -íssimo (masculine) or -íssima (feminine).

1. Basic Formation:
Drop the final vowel of the adjective and add the suffix:

  • Alto → Altíssimo (Extremely tall)
  • Inteligente → Inteligentíssima (Extremely intelligent)

2. Spelling Adjustments:
To maintain the original sound of the stem, some spelling changes occur:

  • -c becomes -qu: Rico → Riquíssimo
  • -g becomes -gu: Largo → Larguíssimo
  • -z becomes -c: Feliz → Felicíssimo

3. Irregular Latinate Forms:
Some adjectives use older Latin stems:

  • -vel becomes -bil: Amável → Amabilíssimo
  • -re/-le often use -érrimo or -ílimo: Pobre → Paupérrimo (though pobríssimo is common); Fácil → Facílimo

4. Usage and Register:
In daily conversation, Brazilians and Portuguese speakers often prefer the 'analytic' form (muito + adjective) or prefixes like super-. The -íssimo form adds a touch of elegance, formality, or extreme emphasis.

Examples (4)

  1. Este exame foi facílimo, não precisas de te preocupar.

    This exam was extremely easy, you don't need to worry.

    Word by Word: This exam was easy-est, not you-need of you to-worry.

    Uses the irregular form 'facílimo' instead of 'facilíssimo' for 'fácil'.

  2. O trânsito hoje está péssimo; vou chegar atrasadíssimo.

    The traffic today is awful; I'm going to be super late.

    Word by Word: The traffic today is worst; I-go to-arrive late-est.

    'Péssimo' is the irregular superlative of 'mau' (bad), and 'atrasadíssimo' intensifies 'atrasado' (late).

  3. Ela é uma mulher inteligentíssima e muito culta.

    She is an extremely intelligent and very cultured woman.

    Word by Word: She is a woman intelligent-est and very cultured.

    Demonstrates the feminine agreement '-íssima' matching 'mulher'.

  4. A comida estava riquíssima em sabores.

    The food was extremely rich in flavors.

    Word by Word: The food was rich-est in flavors.

    Shows the spelling change from 'c' to 'qu' to preserve the hard 'k' sound.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the acute accent on the 'í'.

    Este carro é carissimo.
    Este carro é caríssimo.

    In Portuguese, the suffix always carries an acute accent on the 'í'. This is a common mistake for Spanish speakers.

  • Using the wrong stem for adjectives ending in -vel.

    Ele é amavelíssimo.
    Ele é amabilíssimo.

    Adjectives ending in '-vel' change to '-bil' before adding the suffix.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-íssimo/-íssimaLevel 2Absolute Superlative

Words in This Pattern

-íssimo