In both Spanish and English, we like to take certain adjectives to the extreme. This can be useful for comparing one thing or person to all others in the same category.

It can also be used to express a very high degree of comparison.

This is where the superlative comes in. Superlatives are generally divided into two categories.

The relative superlatives

Regular forms

A relative superlative is used to compare someone or something with a larger group. The basic construction is: definite article + más or menos + adjective.

Sometimes the noun to which the adjective refers can be inserted between the definite article and “más” or “menos”. It appears only once in Spanish (el muchacho más guapo).

Examples (with más):

• Esta mujer es la más inteligente = This woman is the most intelligent
• Mi marido est el más trabajador = My husband is the hardest worker
• Es el edificio más alto del mundo = This is the tallest building in the world
• Es la camisa más linda de la tienda = This is the nicest shirt in the store

Examples (withmenos):

• Este producto es el menos caro = This product is the cheapest
• Pedro es el menos responsable = Pedro is the least responsible
• Soy el hombre menos rico de la familia = I am the least rich man in the family
• El colibrí es el ave menos pesado del mundo = The hummingbird is the least heavy bird in the world

Irregular shapes

Some adjectives do not need “más” or “menos” to express the absolute superlative.

Four main adjectives have this irregularity: mejor, peor, menor and mayor. “Mayor” and “menor” are both used to express a difference in height or age. They are used in the following way: definite article + adjective + noun.

Examples :

• Esta comida es la mejor que existe = This dish is the best there is
• Es el peor libro que he leido = This is the worst book I have ever read
• Mi hermano Juan es el menor = My brother Juan is the youngest
• La Gran Muralla de China es el mayor muro del mundo = The Great Wall of China is the biggest wall in the world

The absolute superlatives

An absolute superlative allows you to increase the value of an adjective without making a comparison.

Several methods can be used to increase the value of an adjective. One can place “muy” (very) or “sumamente” (extremely) before the adjective.

Examples :

• Eres muy inteligente = You are very intelligent
• Es muy amable = He is very nice
• Este tren es sumamente rápido = This train is extremely fast
• Escalar el monte Everest es sumamente difícil = Climbing Mount Everest is extremely difficult

The most common way to amplify the impact of an adjective is to use the suffix –ísimo at the end of the adjective, agreeing it in gender and number with the noun.

Examples :

• Las chicas argentinas son bellísimas = Argentinean girls are incredibly beautiful
• Ha cometido un grandísimo error = He made an extremely big mistake

Be careful, however, as many adjectives have an irregular form with the suffix -ísimo.

If they end in -co, -go, ble or z, their endings in the superlative absolute will be respectively: quisimo, guisimo, bilísimo and císimo.

Examples :

• La familia Rothschild es riquisima (rico) = The Rothschild family is really rich
• Este viaje es larguisimo (largo) = This trip is really very long
• Eres una persona agradabilísima (agradable) = You are a really nice person
• Pedrito es un niño felicísimo (feliz) = Pedrito is a really happy child

Other irregularities exist:

• joven (young) = jovencísimo
• celebre (famous) = celebérrimo
• fuerte (strong) = fortísimo
• simple (simple) = simplicísimo
• fiel (loyal) = fidelísimo
• sabio (wise) = sapientísimo

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