The Absolute Superlative (-íssimo)
When you want to say something is simply extremely or very something, without making a comparison to a group, Portuguese uses the absolute superlative.
Instead of adding a separate word like "very" (muito), you can often express this intense degree by attaching a suffix directly to the end of the adjective. This is perfect for sharing dramatic gossip and exaggerated rumors!
Forming the Absolute Superlative
To form the absolute superlative, drop the final vowel of the adjective (if it has one) and attach -íssimo.
| the scandal | o escândalo |
| The scandal with the millionaire is very serious. | O escândalo com o milionário é gravíssimo. |
If the adjective ends in -o, such as absurdo (absurd), drop the -o to make absurdíssimo:
| the rumor | o boato |
| They are spreading a very absurd rumor! | Eles estão a espalhar um boato absurdíssimo! |
Gender and Number Agreement
Just like the base adjectives they come from, these superlative forms must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. This gives us four possible endings: -íssimo, -íssima, -íssimos, and -íssimas.
For feminine nouns, use -íssima:
| But the actress is very elegant. | Mas a atriz é elegantíssima. |
For plural nouns, simply add an -s to the end of the superlative form:
| You must not spread those very absurd lies. | Não deves espalhar essas mentiras absurdíssimas. |