Superlatives: the most, the least, -ísimo

Spanish: Los superlativos: el más, el menos, -ísimo

Level: A2 Elementary

Category: comparisons

Explanation

The superlative is used to express the maximum or minimum degree of a quality. In Spanish there are two main types: the relative superlative and the absolute superlative. The relative superlative compares an element with a group and is formed with the structure: definite article (el, la, los, las) + más/menos + adjective + de. For example: "Este café es el más caro de la ciudad" (This café is the most expensive in the city). When the adjective comes after the noun, the article appears before the noun: "el museo más grande de Madrid" (the biggest museum in Madrid). The absolute superlative expresses a quality at its highest degree without comparing it to anything. It is formed by adding the ending -ísimo/-ísima/-ísimos/-ísimas to the adjective, or by using words like "muy" or "sumamente". For example: "La comida está buenísima" means "it is very good". If the adjective ends in a vowel, you drop the vowel before adding -ísimo (caro → carísimo). Some adjectives have irregular forms: bueno → el mejor / óptimo, malo → el peor / pésimo, grande → el mayor, pequeño → el menor. These forms are very common in everyday conversation.

Examples

• Este es el café más famoso de Madrid. - This is the most famous café in Madrid.
• Quiero la habitación más tranquila del hotel. - I want the quietest room in the hotel.
• Estas fresas son las más frescas del mercado. - These strawberries are the freshest in the market.
• El cuadro más valioso del museo está en esta sala. - The most valuable painting in the museum is in this room.
• Este billete es el más barato para Barcelona. - This ticket is the cheapest one for Barcelona.