The superlative form can be formed in several different ways:
1.
With the suffix -issimo. The suffix replaces the final vowel of an adverb
or of the masculine plural form of adjectives and nouns. If attached to an
invariable word (such as an adverb), the superlative suffix is invariable.
Otherwise, it changes according to gender and number.
| Basic Word [Transformation] | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| male --> mal- | malissimo | very bad |
| subito --> subit- | subitissimo | very soon, right away |
| caldo --> caldi --> cald- | caldissimo | hottest, very hot |
| grande --> grandi --> grand- | grandissimo | biggest, very big |
| stanco __> stanchi -- stanch- | stanchissimo | very tired |
| amico --> amici --> amic- | amicissimo | very good friend |
2. Placing an adverb before the basic word. Adverbs of this type
include: molto, completamente, totalmente, tanto, assai, immensamente, terribilmente.
| Basic Word | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| male | molto male | very bad |
| presto | assai presto | very soon |
| caldo | terribilmente caldo | hottest, very hot |
| grande | tanto grande | very big |
3. With adjectives, using the definite article and placing "più"
before the adjective.
| Phrase | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| un film recente | il film più recente | the most recent movie |
| grossa spesa | la più grossa spesa | the biggest expense |
4. With a small number of adjectives, repeating the adjective
twice.
| Phrase | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| una macchina nuova | una macchina nuova nuova | a very new car |
| una casa grande | una casa grande grande | a very big house |
5. With a small number of adjectives, placing the adjective "tutto"
before the main adjective. "Tutto" must agree in gender and
number.
| Phrase | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| una macchina nuova | una macchina tutta nuova | a completely new car |
| la casa è pulita | la casa è tutta pulita | the house is totally clean |
6. With a small number of adjectives, using a special
"superlative" form.
| Adjective | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| acre | il mio acerrismo nemico | my worst enemy |
Here is a short list of such words:
acre > acerrimo
integro > integerrimo
celebre > celeberrimo
misero > miserrimo
salubre > saluberrimo
benefico > beneficentissimo
benevolo > benevolentissimo
maledico > maledicentissimo
munifico > munificentissimo
7. In a small number of idioms, by
adding a modifier (noun, adjective, or phrase) to the adjective.
| Adjective | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| freddo | freddo cane | dead cold |
| ubriaco | ubriaco fradicio | dead drunk |
| ricco | ricco sfondato | filthy rich |
| pieno | pieno zeppo | full to the brim |
| stanco | stanco morto | dead tired |
| bello da morire | bello da morire | incredibly beautiful |
| caro | caro arrabbiato | awfully expensive |
| salato | salato arrabbiato | awfully salty |
| scemo | scemo completo | completely crazy |
| caldo | caldo bollente | boiling hot |
8. In a small number of idioms using a noun, by adding "di",
the definite article and the plural form fo the noun.
| Adjective | Superlative | English Equivalent |
| il Re | il Re dei Re | The King of Kings |
| il cantico | il Cantico dei Cantici | the Song of Songs |
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