Study Resource: Reference sheet for one-word superlative adjectives
The charts below illustrate how and when you can form a Brazilian Portuguese 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 amiable → very amiable |
ends in -z | drop the -z and add -císsimo | feliz → felicíssimo happy → very happy |
ends in -m | drop the -m and add -níssimo | comum → comuníssimo common → very common |
ends in -ão | drop the -ão and add -aníssimo | vão → vaníssimo vain → very vain |
One-word superlative adjectives with irregular endings
The following adjectives have irregular one-word superlative forms.
Basic adjective | Superlative adjective |
|---|---|
amargo bitter | amaríssimo |
amigo friend | amicíssimo |
antigo antique | antiquíssimo |
benéfico beneficial | beneficentíssimo |
cristão Christian | cristianíssimo |
cruel cruel | cristianíssimo |
doce sweet | dulcíssimo |
fiel faithful | fidelíssimo |
frio cold | frigidíssimo |
geral general | generalíssimo |
livre free | livríssimo / libérrimo |
magnífico magnificent | magnifentíssimo |
magro thin | macérrimo / magríssimo |
nobre noble | nobilíssimo |
pessoal personal | personalíssimo |
pobre poor | pobríssimo / paupérrimo |
sábio wise | sapientíssimo |
simples simple | simplíssimo / simplicíssimo |
