Definition of Super (and Super)

The word super is found with two different spellings, since sometimes it does not have accent mark and sometimes yes. In the first case we indicate that something has a higher degree than normal and in the second it is used as an adjective or as a noun.

Used with accent in the following situations

To abbreviate the word Supermarket ("I bought two kilos of fruit at the supermarket"). In relation to a type of gasoline ("I have filled the tank with twenty dollars of super").

Sometimes it is used as an adjective to underline excellence ("she has a super boyfriend" or "it was super at the party"). In any case, with this word we indicate that something or someone is extraordinary, excellent or magnificent for some reason.

We often need to emphasize the exceptional qualities of something or someone

If a discount commercial is very significant we will say that it is a super discount and if someone is especially effective in his work we can say that he is super effective. In these situations super is a prefix that must be written next to the reinforcing word and in no case using a hyphen as a separation.

This general rule has some exceptions, since we say that we are "super comfortable" or that a garment "is super fashionable". There are plenty of synonymous terms, such as great, fantastic, great or excellent, among many others.

When we want to express that something goes beyond normal, the super prefix may be insufficient and for this reason we use the hyper prefix. Thus, "being hyper-content" or "feeling hypersensitive" are two ways of expressing the exceptionality of two feelings.

Other superlative forms

The superlative degree of an adjective allows to express positive or negative abnormality about something. In addition to super, in Spanish we use other terms that act in this sense: muy, the Latin lexeme ísimo or the prefixation re, archi or extra. We say that a person is "very hardworking", that a subject is "very difficult", that someone is "requetefeo", "archpopular" or that a substance it is "extrasoft".

Some superlative adjectives have certain irregularities or are exceptional in character. The adjective good in its superlative form can be said in two ways and both are correct: one colloquial (great) and another cultured (great).

Certain superlative adjectives are not formed with the lexeme ísimo but with the suffix érrimo-a, as famous from famous, very poor from poor, very free from free or wretched from miserable. In all these cases the superlative adjective does not comply with the general rule and is therefore irregular.

Photos: Fotolia - Ratoca / Gilbertc