Spanish Intensifiers

In Spanish, there are a number of words as well as one suffix that can be used to intensify the meaning of other words. Intensifiers are not the same thing as comparatives, superlatives, or augmentatives.

Intensifiers can be used with adjectives, adverbs, nouns, and verbs. They include words like muy (very), mucho (much, a lot), and sumamente (extremely).

The suffix -ísimo is an intensifier that can be attached to the end of many adjectives. It changes for gender and number:

If the adjective that -ísimo attaches to ends in a vowel, the vowel is dropped. There may also be spelling changes due to hard/soft vowels.

 
Intensifiers vs Augumentatives and Diminutives

Whereas augmentatives and diminutives add a particular meaning to the word they modify (such as greatness or ridicule), intensifiers only intensify the meaning of the modified adjective itself.
 

Intensifiers vs Comparatives

Comparatives compare one person or thing to another. Intensifiers do not. The adjective modified by an intensifier is very (whatever) all by itself.
 

Intensifiers vs Superlatives

The superlative is the most/least something of a group. This is sometimes called the "relative superlative," while intensifiers, particularly the suffix -ísimo, are sometimes called the "absolute superlative." However, this is a misnomer, since intensifiers are not comparing anything.

Spanish Grammar     Spanish for Beginners

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