How to Use Superlatives in Spanish

[00:00:05]But wait, why does Spanish have two different ways to say very good or the best? Amigos, amigos, welcome back. This is Prophet Juan, and by the end of this video, you'll understand how Spanish superlative works, the difference between relative and absolute superlatives, and why words like benimo are everywhere in real conversations.

[00:00:26]And as I always tell you, miss amigos amigas, this is not about complicated grammar. This is how Spanish actually works.

[00:00:34]In part one, we learn how Spanish compare things.

[00:00:46]and with K, the whole story. But today, we're taking the next step. Not comparing two things, but identifying the string, the best, the biggest, the most interesting. Let me remind you first comparatives answer compared to what. For example, Juan is alto.

[00:01:09]But today, we're looking at the highest level in a group or an extreme degree.

[00:01:15]And those are superlatives. Before we move on, hey, according to YouTube, more than 70% of you guys are not subscribed to this channel. What are you waiting for? Subscribe and you won't miss important videos on Spanish learning.

[00:01:31]So, subscribe. Look at this. Spanish has two major types of super relatives.

[00:01:36]Relative superlatives, the best in a group, the biggest in a group. and absolute superlatives something like very big or very good extremely interesting. Let's start with the first one.

[00:01:51]Yeah, like me when I was a child. Juan is the tallest in the class. Notice the structure or of course we have the the word Juan, the name Juan, right? Then we have Lola, that article. Then we have the word mass. And then we have the adjective s in this case. Juan s Victoria is Franco.

[00:02:21]I'm not lying. It's just the example we plan. I mean it's a random example, right? So we have article. We have the word mass to express more intell.

[00:02:38]And then we put it in context.

[00:02:40]We good? We good. Let's move on. Let's let's look at a different example.

[00:02:49]This is the fastest car, right? We have again the article in this case elo for the co rapid the adjective right in this case we don't need context and we're given information in general this is the fastest car like we don't need context it's just the fastest again here we have something before the article in this case it was Okay.

[00:03:28]More interesting of the year was the most interesting movie of the year. This instructor identifies the extreme member of a group.

[00:03:37]Not just taller, the tallest.

[00:03:41]And again, remember the example of the car. If we don't put it in context, it's just the fastest car. As simple as that.

[00:03:49]But Spanish has a few special words that break the pattern. Attention because this is when we talk about the special superlatives.

[00:03:58]And look at this.

[00:04:02]He's the best player, right? Like Leonel Messi, not Elas Bueno. Spanish usually prefers Elas Bueno.

[00:04:13]We don't use it like that.

[00:04:17]That one is option is the worst option.

[00:04:21]Not because it's the worst.

[00:04:26]Let's look at a different one.

[00:04:34]He's the oldest of the siblings which is the youngest in the group. And these words are extremely common. amigos learners hear them constantly and sometimes they're just like what mayor no take into account this special superlative exist and they are very very common okay so that's how Spanish says the best the worst the biggest in group but what about really good or extremely expensive because of course you could say something like or mu weno, but it doesn't taste the same like using an absolute superlative because look at this.

[00:05:24]It's something like it's really good or it's fantastic. But it's not the same to say is just like you're intensifying the adjective so much that is it doesn't have any comparation whatsoever. Notice this. Again, we're not comparing this to anything.

[00:05:47]We're simply in intensifying the adjective.

[00:05:51]Let me give you more examples. When your husband or your wife cooks and you want to, you know, like make peace with him or her, it's delicious. When you have an exam that is, wow, extremely easy for you because you are a very smart person. You you learn Spanish here. So, It's extremely easy.

[00:06:17]It's very expensive, but it's ridiculously expensive. This expressions are called again absolute superlatives because there is no comparison, just intensity. We have a pattern here. Look at this. Bueno is very good.

[00:06:37]Very delicious.

[00:06:41]Very easy.

[00:06:45]Very difficult, very important. Spanish often creates this force by adding or easy. And this is one of the most common intensifiers in Spanish. There are also moments where we need to use like that kind of examples, but we look into those details in a different video.

[00:07:10]Okay, once you learn this pattern, you start hearing it everywhere. Trust me. Let me give you an example. A friend recommends a restaurant. Hey, someone talks about a dessert.

[00:07:27]A teacher explains grammar.

[00:07:32]Someone complains about a hut.

[00:07:35]These forms sound much more natural than just constantly saying because native speakers love using because we like drama and you know it.

[00:07:47]We have talked about this before, right?

[00:07:50]Let's do a little recap. Spanish has two major types of superlatives. Relative superlatives alto.

[00:08:02]And again attention because this compares members of a group and Spanish also has absolute superlatives.

[00:08:13]These don't compare anything. They simply express an extreme degree. The key question is am I comparing something or am I simply intensifying it? And that's the difference.

[00:08:28]Hey, but now it's your turn. Right. One superlative in Spanish.

[00:08:40]I don't know. Like, it could be anything. One sentence is more than enough. I'll read your comments. I'll read your comments. And if you haven't watched part one of this series, go watch comparative in Spanish explain because that's where this whole comparison system begins. If this helped you understand Spanish superlatives, like the video, subscribe, share with your friends, and I'll see you in the next video.