extrema
/ex-TREH-mah/
extreme
A person at the top of a mountain represents an extreme height.
extrema(adjective)
extreme
?showing a very high degree of something
utmost
?to the greatest extent
,intense
?highly concentrated
📝 In Action
La ola de calor es extrema este verano.
A2The heatwave is extreme this summer.
Vive en una situación de pobreza extrema.
B1She lives in a situation of extreme poverty.
Tomó una medida extrema para solucionar el problema.
B2She took an extreme measure to solve the problem.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching with words
Since this word ends in '-a', it only describes feminine words. Use it for 'la situación' (the situation) or 'la medida' (the measure).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using it with masculine words
Mistake: "el frío extrema"
Correction: el frío extremo. Adjectives must match the gender of the object they describe.
⭐ Usage Tips
Intensity booster
Use this when 'muy' (very) isn't strong enough. It suggests something is at the very limit of what is possible.
A sail stretched to its limit illustrates pushing a situation as far as it can go.
extrema(verb)
to push to the limit
?to take a situation or action as far as possible
to maximize
?to increase precautions or efforts to the highest level
📝 In Action
El gobierno extrema las medidas de seguridad.
B2The government is maximizing security measures.
¡Extrema las precauciones en la carretera!
B2Be extremely careful on the road!
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'extrema' as a command
This specific form is used when giving a direct order to a friend (tú) to be extremely careful or to do something to the max.
⭐ Usage Tips
News Vocabulary
You will often hear this on the news during emergencies: 'Se recomienda extremar las precauciones' (It is recommended to take extreme precautions).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: extrema
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the correct use of 'extrema'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'extrema' for a boy?
No. If you are describing a boy or a masculine noun like 'viento' (wind), you must use the masculine form 'extremo'.
Is 'extrema' a common word?
Yes, it is very common in both casual conversation (to describe intense things) and formal news (to describe political views or safety measures).