The two types of superlatives (2nd comparison) in Portuguese

 

Relative superlative

Relative superlative
most and least
muito / bastante / extremamente + adjective

In Portuguese grammar, the majority of superlatives are also formed using the words mais and menos, unlike English where the words most or least are considered fairly basic components of the language.
These words do not have a direct equivalent in Portuguese, instead the phrases o/a mais and o/a menos are used, literally “the more” and “the less”.
The noun is placed between the article and the adjective as described previously.

💬 e.g.
🇵🇹 muito interessante – 🇬🇧 very interesting
🇵🇹 muito lindo – 🇬🇧 very beautiful


Absolute superlative

Absolute superlative
adjective + -Ă­ssimo

💬 e.g.
🇵🇹 interessantĂ­ssimo – 🇬🇧 most interesting
🇵🇹 lindĂ­ssimo – 🇬🇧 most beautiful

A Portuguese native speaker finds the absolute superlative (as the name suggests) stronger than a relative superlative.

💡 As a rule of thumb for your own superlative formation, remember that an absolute superlative should express the "highest of feelings".


 

➠ Irregular comparison of Portuguese adjectives


 

 

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