9.2. Superlatives
A superlative is a degree of comparison that expresses the maximum degree of an adjective or adverb.
| DEGREE OF COMPARISON | PART(S) OF SPEECH | DIRECT COMPARISON TO OTHER SUBJECTS? |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative (Equality or Inequality) | Adjective / Adverb | ✅ Yes |
| Relative Superlative | Adjective | ✅ Yes |
| Absolute Superlative | Adjective / Adverb | No |
9.2.1. Relative Superlatives
A relative superlative is a degree of comparison that describes a noun within the context of a larger group.
Lo (plus / menos) + adjective + de
| Carla èst la púera plus alta de la classe. | Carla is the tallest girl in the class. |
| Lo padrino èst lo mellîore film de totos los tèmpos. | The Godfather is the best movie of all time. |
| Cuesta casa èst la menos costosa de la zòna. | This house is the cheapest in the area. |
9.2.2. Absolute Superlatives
An absolute superlative is a degree of comparison that describes a noun to its maximum degree without comparing the noun to anything.
For Adjectives
To use the absolute superlative form of adjectives:
- Drop the final vowel of the adjective.
- Depending on the gender and quantity of the accompanying noun, add the suffix -íssimo, -íssima, -íssimos or -íssimas.
Intelligènte (Smart) ➜ Intelligent- + -íssimo = Intelligentíssimo
| Lo púero èst intelligentíssimo. | The boy is very smart. |
Bèllo (Beautiful) ➜ Bell- + -íssimo = Bellíssimo
| Las flores son bellíssimas. | The flowers are very beautiful. |
For Adverbs
To use the absolute superlative form of adverbs:
- Drop the final vowel of the adverb.
- Add the suffix -íssimo.
Lènto (Slow) ➜ Lent- + -íssimo = Lentíssimo
| La tartaruga se mòve lentíssimo. | The turtle moves very slowly. |
Ràpido (Fast) ➜ Rapid- + -íssimo = Rapidíssimo
| Antonio parla rapidíssimo. | Antonio speaks very fast. |
Notice that the absolute superlative form of adverbs always ends in -íssimo. Unlike adjectives, adverbs do not change to agree with noun in gender and quantity.
Adjectives that end in -co or -go change their spelling to -chi or -ghi.
Tràgico ➜ Tragic- = Tragichíssimo (Very tragic)
Lòngo ➜ Long- = Longhíssimo (Very long)