Now we will go over the superlativo assoluto (absolute superlative). It bears this name because it is the way to the express the highest or lowest degree of a quality of something without placing it in a certain group or category.
To form it in Italian, you simply cut off the final vowel of the adjective and add:
-issimo, -issima, -issimi or -issime, making sure it agrees in gender and number with the noun it is modifying*. E.g.,
La pizza è buonissima.
The pizza is great (the best).
Loro sono bravissimi.
They are very good (the best).
* These four forms also apply to two-change adjectives (grande, intelligente, etc.) that otherwise only have two forms. Notice how facile is declined the same way as bravo below:
3. The superlativo assoluto can also be formed with a handful of prefixes, stra-, ultra-, arci-, super-, all of which basically mean “very,” or “incredibly.”
Prefix Adjective
stra-
ultra-
arci- + aggettivo
super-
Examples
strafelice, straricco, stracarico
ultramoderno,
arcicontento, arcinoto
Esempi:
Marco vive in un appartamento ultramoderno.
Marco lives in an very modern apartment.
Quando ieri sono tornato dal supermercato ero stracarico di pacchi.
Yesterday when I got back from the supermarket, I was overloaded with packages.
Rossi ha avuto molto successo, ormai è uno scrittore arcinoto.
Rossi has had a lot of success, by now he is a very well-known writer.
4. The superlativo assoluto can also be formed with molto and assai, which both mean “very”:
I panini in quel bar sono molto buoni. = The panini in that bar are very good.
È un attore assai conosciuto. = He’s a very well-known actor.