What's the "simo" in the following words?

Question

- What's the "**simo**" doing on the following adjectives? - What rules should be applied to convert the adjectives to the corresponding "simo" adjective? - Can this be applied to all adjectives or just a few? Example 1: > El pastel esta; **rico**. > El pastel esta **riquisimo**. Example 2: > El cafe; esta; **caliente**. > El cafe; esta; **calentisimo**. More examples: buenisimo, facilisimo, malisimo.

Answer 1

Great question! The ending “‑ísimo/‑ísima” is a Spanish suffix used to create the superlative form of adjectives. It intensifies the meaning of the adjective, similar to saying “very,” “extremely,” or “super” in English.

1. What is “‑ísimo”?

It’s a superlative suffix added to adjectives to express a stronger degree:

1. rico → riquísimo (extremely tasty)
2. caliente → calentísimo (extremely hot)
3. bueno → buenísimo (very good)

2. Why does the form change?

Spanish often modifies the root of the adjective before adding “‑ísimo” to maintain correct spelling and pronunciation:

1. rico → riquísimo (c → qu)
2. fácil → facilísimo (accent disappears)
3. caliente → calentísimo (no spelling change needed)

The suffix must also match gender and number:

1. riquísimo (masc. singular)
2. riquísima (fem. singular)
3. riquísimos / riquísimas (plural forms)

3. What rules are applied?

General steps:

1. Take the adjective root.
2. Apply spelling changes if needed (c→qu, g→gu, z→c).
3. Add ‑ísimo (masc.) or ‑ísima (fem.).
4. Make it plural if necessary.

Examples:

1. feliz → felicísimo
2. largo → larguísimo
3. amable → amabilísimo

4. Can this be applied to all adjectives?

Almost all gradable adjectives (those that can vary in intensity) can take “‑ísimo.” But adjectives that describe absolute states cannot logically be intensified:

1. muerto (dead)
2. embarazada (pregnant)
3. perfecto (perfect — although people sometimes say perfectísimo informally)

So: ✔ caliente → calentísimo ✔ fácil → facilísimo ✘ embarazada → embarazadísima (not used because the state is absolute)

Summary

“‑ísimo” is a superlative suffix that intensifies adjectives. It follows spelling rules, agrees in gender/number, and works with most adjectives except those describing absolute states.

Answer 2

The suffixes "-ísimo" (masculine) and "-ísima" (feminine) are used to itensify adjectives in Spanish. English grammar doesn't afford us this same option. Instead, we have to use an adverb like really, extremely, incredibly, etc. before the adjective, to create the same effect.

Therefore, riquísimo = really tasty, super tasty, etc. You must be careful to include the right ending (masc/fem) to match the gender of each noun. "El pastel es riquísimo" BUT "la carne es riquísima". The gender of adjectives in Spanish depends on the gender of the nouns they modify.

Most adjectives in Spanish can take on this ending, though in some cases it might be better to use a different adjective entirely. For example, instead of saying "esa casa es grandísima (really big)," you might consider saying, "esa casa es enorme (huge)".

As far as I know, the only adjectives that couldn't take on this ending (logically) are ones that describe absolute states: pregnant, dead, blind, deaf, etc. You can't be a little pregnant, just like you can't be really pregnant. You either are or you aren't. So avoid using the above endings with these kinds of adjectives, and you should be golden!