Lessons

Study with a professional teacher

Request a teacher

—

—

B2.4 - Getting a loan

Absolute superlative: extra, ultra, super...

The absolute superlative expresses a very high degree of a quality.

What you’re doing here: absolute superlatives (intensifiers)

Superlativo absoluto = you are not comparing (not “more/most”). You are simply saying: very / extremely / really.

  • super-, extra-, archi-, ultra- + adjective = stronger intensity
  • adjective + adjective (repetition) = emphatic, common in speech
  • -ísimo/-ísima = “very”, often more formal or written

Key writing rule: the prefix sticks to the adjective

With these prefixes, Spanish normally writes one single word:

Correct Incorrect
superseguro super seguro
extracaro extra caro
archiconocido archi conocido
ultraflexible ultra flexible
  • No hyphen in Spanish: write ultrabajo, not ultra-bajo.
  • Accent rules stay the same: superconfuso (no accent on super).

Meaning and register: choose the right intensity

Form Typical meaning Register
super- + adj. really, very neutral, very common
extra- + adj. extra / unusually neutral (often consumer/business contexts)
archi- + adj. extremely + “well-known/obvious” nuance more expressive, slightly rhetorical
ultra- + adj. ultra / extremely (often “limits pushed”) neutral to emphatic
adj. + adj. very (emphasis) spoken, persuasive, informal
adj. + -ísimo very (strong, “absolute”) often written, also common in speech

Agreement check: gender and number still apply

The prefix does not change agreement rules. The adjective must match the noun.

  • feminine singular: una comisión extracara
  • masculine singular: un préstamo superseguro
  • feminine plural: cláusulas superconfusas
  • masculine plural: bancos archiconocidos

Repetition of the adjective: how it works (and punctuation)

Repetition is a simple, very natural way to intensify:

  • seguro seguro = “really safe”
  • bajo bajo = “very low”

Writing tip: usually no comma between the repeated adjectives.

  • Better: Es seguro seguro.
  • Less natural: Es seguro, seguro. (can appear, but sounds more like an afterthought)

Extra intensity: combine repetition with -ísimo

You may see (or use) a two-step intensification:

  • claro clarísimo = “very, very clear”

It’s expressive, but still understandable in professional contexts when used sparingly.

Regional note: re- (very common in Argentina)

In Argentina (and some neighboring areas), re- works like “really/very” in speech:

  • La reunión fue reinteresante.

Self-check: If you want a more international/formal option, prefer muy, super-, or -ísimo.

Quick self-check before you move on

  1. Am I intensifying (absolute) and not comparing? If yes, this topic fits.
  2. Did I write the prefix as one word with the adjective? (superseguro, ultrabajo)
  3. Did my adjective agree with the noun? (extracara / extracaro / extracaras)
  4. If I used repetition, did I keep it simple? (seguro seguro, not *segurosure*)
  1. The absolute superlative does not compare; it only intensifies.
  2. The prefixes are attached directly to the adjective.
FormExample
SuperEl banco ofrece un crédito superseguro para viviendas. (The bank offers a super-secure loan for housing.)
ExtraEl cliente paga una comisión extracara por el servicio. (The customer pays an extra-expensive fee for the service.)
ArchiEs un banco archiconocido en el sector financiero. (It is a well-known bank in the financial sector.)
UltraLa hipoteca tiene condiciones ultraflexibles. (The mortgage has ultra-flexible terms.)
Repetition of the adjectiveEl préstamo es seguro seguro para familias. (The loan is really, really safe for families.)

Exceptions!

  1. You can also add a superlative to give more intensity: El contrato es claro clarísimo.
  2. The prefix re- is widely used in spoken language in Argentina: la reunión fue reinteresante.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

Free ES

Preparing audio…

ES + EN

Preparing audio…

1. Si domicilias la nómina y el recibo del alquiler, podemos ofrecerte un tipo de interés ______ durante los dos primeros años. Si domicilias la nómina y el recibo del alquiler, podemos ofrecerte un tipo de interés ultrabajo durante los dos primeros años.

If you set up direct deposit for your salary and the rent payment, we can offer you an ______ interest rate during the first two years.

2. Antes de firmar la hipoteca, pedí una copia del contrato porque algunas cláusulas me parecían ______. Antes de firmar la hipoteca, pedí una copia del contrato porque algunas cláusulas me parecían superconfusas.

Before signing the mortgage, I asked for a copy of the contract because some clauses seemed ______ to me.

3. Ojo con la comisión: en este préstamo personal la penalización es ______ si cancelas antes de tiempo. Ojo con la comisión: en este préstamo personal la penalización es extracara si cancelas antes de tiempo.

Watch out for the fee: in this personal loan the penalty is ______ if you cancel early.

4. Me dijeron que el aval era ______, pero aun así revisé las condiciones y pedí que me lo explicaran por escrito. Me dijeron que el aval era seguro seguro, pero aun así revisé las condiciones y pedí que me lo explicaran por escrito.

They told me the guarantee was ______, but even so I reviewed the conditions and asked them to explain it to me in writing.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite each sentence by replacing the indicated intensity expression with the corresponding absolute superlative: use the prefix (super-, extra-, archi-, ultra-) or the repetition of the adjective/"-ísimo", as specified in parentheses. Example: "muy seguro" → "superseguro."

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

Show/Hide translation
  1. (super-) El gestor dice que este préstamo es muy seguro para autónomos.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    El gestor dice que este préstamo es superseguro para autónomos.
    (The manager says that this loan is super safe for self-employed people.)
  2. (extra-) La comisión por cancelación anticipada es extremadamente cara.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    La comisión por cancelación anticipada es extracara.
    (The early repayment fee is extra expensive.)
  3. (archi-) Es una entidad muy conocida en el sector y por eso genera confianza.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Es una entidad archiconocida en el sector y por eso genera confianza.
    (It is an archi well-known institution in the sector and that is why it inspires confidence.)
  4. (ultra-) Busco una hipoteca con condiciones muy flexibles para poder amortizar cuando quiera.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Busco una hipoteca con condiciones ultraflexibles para poder amortizar cuando quiera.
    (I’m looking for a mortgage with ultra-flexible terms so I can repay whenever I want.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct option.

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

1.
Incorrect: the prefix must be attached to the adjective; 'super secure' written separately does not follow the rule of the absolute superlative.
2.
Incorrect: the prefix extra- must be attached to the adjective; the correct form is 'extra-clear'.
Previous Next

Learn Spanish B2 upper intermediate. Complete course with app and audio

ISBN 979-13-88475-03-0

This app supports this book.

Amazon.com

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

Profile Picture

Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Wednesday, 24/06/2026 06:48