SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES IN SPANISH

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 (with menos):
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

Esta es la receta más simple.

Es el estudiante más inteligente de la clase.
Era el más rápido de la competencia.
Deberías escribirle lo antes posible.
Este es el mejor regalo que he recibido.
El arroz es el alimento más consumido en el planeta.
Es el hombre más fuerte del pueblo.
Es el día más caluroso del verano.
Estos pantalones son los más caros de la tienda.
Estos libros son muy caros.