When you want to say that something is "very" or "extremely" good, bad, or beautiful, you can use the word molto (very). However, Italian also has a special suffix to express this high degree of intensity: the absolute superlative.
The Suffix -issimo
To form the absolute superlative, drop the final vowel of the adjective and add -issimo. Just like regular adjectives, this ending must change to match the gender and number of the noun it describes (-issimo, -issima, -issimi, -issime).
| I have already read the review: the movie is very beautiful. | Ho già letto la recensione: il film è bellissimo. |
| I recommend this place, the food is very good! | Consiglio questo posto, il cibo è buonissimo! |
| The service at the bar is very slow. | Il servizio al bar è lentissimo. |
Adjectives Ending in -e
Adjectives that normally end in -e in their singular form (like triste or difficile) follow the exact same rule. They drop the -e and take the standard four -issimo endings to show the noun's gender and number.
| The first scene of the movie is very sad. | La prima scena del film è tristissima. |
| I have never understood the plot, it is very difficult! | Non ho mai capito la trama, è difficilissima! |
Spelling Changes with -co and -go
For adjectives that end in -co or -go (like fresco or lungo), you must add an h before the suffix. This keeps the hard "c" or "g" sound intact (freschissimo, lunghissimo).
| We recommend the fish, today it is extremely fresh. | Consigliamo il pesce, oggi è freschissimo. |
| She wrote a very long review for the restaurant. | Lei ha scritto una recensione lunghissima per il ristorante. |
Giving Enthusiastic Reviews
The -issimo suffix is used all the time in everyday Italian, especially when giving passionate opinions about food, art, and experiences.
| good / skillful (ability, well-behaved) | bravo |
| You were really good, the concert was a masterpiece! | Siete stati bravissimi, il concerto è stato un capolavoro! |
| This painting is very beautiful, a true masterpiece! | Questo quadro è bellissimo, un vero capolavoro! |