Study Resource: Reference sheet for one-word superlative adjectives
By: Fabiana Dametto Oliveira
The charts below illustrate how and when you can form a Brazilian Portuguese superlative adjective using only an ending.
One-word superlative adjectives: Rules
The following types of adjectives can reliably be made superlative through the addition of a special superlative ending. Let’s have a look at the rules:
| Description of adjective | Superlative rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
ends in -vel | drop the -vel and add -bilíssimo | amável → amabilíssimo Translation: amiable → very amiable |
ends in -z | drop the -z and add -císsimo | feliz → felicíssimo Translation: happy → very happy |
ends in -m | drop the -m and add -níssimo | comum → comuníssimo Translation: common → very common |
ends in -ão | drop the -ão and add -aníssimo | vão → vaníssimo Translation: vain → very vain |
One-word superlative adjectives with irregular endings
The following adjectives have irregular one-word superlative forms.
| Basic adjective | Superlative adjective |
|---|---|
amargo Translation: bitter | amaríssimo |
amigo Translation: friend | amicíssimo |
antigo Translation: antique | antiquíssimo |
benéfico Translation: beneficial | beneficentíssimo |
cristão Translation: Christian | cristianíssimo |
cruel Translation: cruel | cristianíssimo |
doce Translation: sweet | dulcíssimo |
fiel Translation: faithful | fidelíssimo |
frio Translation: cold | frigidíssimo |
geral Translation: general | generalíssimo |
livre Translation: free | livríssimo / libérrimo |
magnífico Translation: magnificent | magnifentíssimo |
magro Translation: thin | macérrimo / magríssimo |
nobre Translation: noble | nobilíssimo |
pessoal Translation: personal | personalíssimo |
pobre Translation: poor | pobríssimo / paupérrimo |
sábio Translation: wise | sapientíssimo |
simples Translation: simple | simplíssimo / simplicíssimo |
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