Inklingo

How to Say "very" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “very” is “muy” — use this as a general intensifier for adjectives and adverbs in most everyday situations..

muy🔊A1

Use this as a general intensifier for adjectives and adverbs in most everyday situations.

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bien🔊A2

Use this to intensify an adjective or adverb, often sounding more colloquial or emphatic than 'muy'.

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súperA2

Use this as a casual and common intensifier for adjectives, similar to 'super' or 'really'.

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altamente🔊B1

Use this to intensify adjectives in more formal contexts, often implying a high degree or level.

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propio🔊B2

Use this adjective for emphasis, meaning 'very same' or 'the one itself', often referring to a specific person or thing.

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misma🔊A1

Use this adjective for emphasis with time or place, translating to 'very' in phrases like 'this very day'.

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re🔊B2

Use this informal particle as an intensifier, similar to 'super' or 'really', especially in Spain.

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English → Spanish

muy

/mwee//ˈmui̯/

adverbA1general
Use this as a general intensifier for adjectives and adverbs in most everyday situations.
An illustration of a volume knob turned all the way up to the maximum level, with sound waves coming out.

Examples

El café está muy caliente.

The coffee is very hot.

Ella corre muy rápido.

She runs very fast.

Estoy muy bien, gracias.

I'm very well, thank you.

What does 'muy' do?

'Muy' is a 'booster' word. You put it before describing words (like 'grande' or 'rápido') to make them stronger. It works just like 'very' in English.

'Muy' vs. 'Mucho'

Use 'muy' before describing words (adjectives/adverbs). Use 'mucho' with action words (verbs) or things (nouns). Think: 'muy' for descriptions, 'mucho' for quantities or actions.

Using 'muy' with things (nouns)

Mistake: “Tengo muy amigos.”

Correction: Use 'muchos amigos' instead. 'Muy' describes qualities, while 'mucho/muchos' counts things.

Using 'mucho' with descriptions

Mistake: “Estoy mucho cansado.”

Correction: Use 'muy cansado' instead. To describe *how* tired you are, you need the booster word 'muy'.

bien

/byen//ˈbjen/

adverbA2informal
Use this to intensify an adjective or adverb, often sounding more colloquial or emphatic than 'muy'.
A magnifying glass making a word larger, symbolizing how 'bien' can intensify another word.

Examples

La película es bien buena.

The movie is really good.

Vives bien lejos de aquí.

You live very far from here.

Llegamos bien temprano.

We arrived really early.

A Stronger 'Muy'

Using bien instead of muy before another word often adds a little more emphasis, like saying 'really' instead of 'very'. It's very common in everyday conversation.

Placement is Key

Mistake: “La casa es grande bien.”

Correction: La casa es bien grande.

súper

adverbA2informal
Use this as a casual and common intensifier for adjectives, similar to 'super' or 'really'.

Examples

Mi nuevo teléfono es súper rápido.

My new phone is super fast/extremely fast.

altamente

/al-TAH-men-te//alˈta.men.te/

adverbB1formal
Use this to intensify adjectives in more formal contexts, often implying a high degree or level.
A tiny brown mouse stands at the base of a gigantic wedge of yellow Swiss cheese, emphasizing the massive size of the cheese.

Examples

El nuevo software es altamente eficiente.

The new software is highly efficient.

La situación se considera altamente riesgosa.

The situation is considered extremely risky.

El jurado encontró su testimonio altamente creíble.

The jury found her testimony highly credible.

Forming Adverbs with -mente

Most Spanish adverbs like 'altamente' are formed by taking the feminine singular form of an adjective ('alta') and adding the ending '-mente.' This works just like adding '-ly' in English.

Invariable Word

Since 'altamente' is an adverb, it always stays the same. It does not change its ending to match the gender (masculine/feminine) or number (singular/plural) of the word it modifies.

Confusing Adverb and Adjective

Mistake: “La situación es alta compleja. (Using the adjective 'alta' instead of the adverb.)”

Correction: La situación es altamente compleja. (Use 'altamente' because it modifies the adjective 'compleja,' telling us *how* complex it is.)

propio

/pro-pyo//ˈpɾo.pjo/

adjectiveB2general
Use this adjective for emphasis, meaning 'very same' or 'the one itself', often referring to a specific person or thing.
A king in a crown and regal robes personally opening a large, heavy wooden door, emphasizing that he is doing it without assistance.

Examples

El propio presidente anunció la noticia.

The president himself announced the news.

La solución se encuentra en el propio problema.

The solution is found in the problem itself.

Lo vi con mis propios ojos.

I saw it with my own (very) eyes.

Placement is Everything

For this meaning, 'propio' comes before the noun it's describing. Compare: 'el propio director' (the director himself) vs. 'el director propio' (the suitable director). The position changes the meaning completely.

misma

/MEES-mah//ˈmisma/

adjectiveA1general
Use this adjective for emphasis with time or place, translating to 'very' in phrases like 'this very day'.
Two perfectly identical, bright red apples placed side-by-side on a clean white surface, symbolizing the concept of being the same.

Examples

Tenemos la misma idea.

We have the same idea.

Ella va a la misma escuela que yo.

She goes to the same school as me.

La reunión es mañana por la mañana, a la misma hora.

The meeting is tomorrow morning, at the same time.

Always Match the Noun

Misma is the form for feminine nouns. It has to agree with the noun it's describing. For example, you say 'la misma casa' (the same house) because 'casa' is feminine.

Placement Before the Noun

When it means 'same', misma almost always comes before the noun. Think of it as a team: la misma + [feminine noun].

Forgetting to Match Gender

Mistake: “Compramos la mismo mesa.”

Correction: Compramos la misma mesa. The word 'mesa' (table) is feminine in Spanish, so its adjective needs to be feminine too: `misma`.

re

/reh//re/

particleB2very informal
Use this informal particle as an intensifier, similar to 'super' or 'really', especially in Spain.
A tiny, simple red apple placed immediately next to a gigantic, exaggeratedly large version of the same red apple, illustrating amplification.

Examples

La película estuvo rebuena, la tienes que ver.

The movie was super good, you have to see it.

Llegamos retarde a la reunión.

We arrived really late to the meeting.

Ese examen fue resencillo.

That test was very simple (super easy).

Intensifier Placement

'Re' is usually attached directly before an adjective or an adverb to increase its intensity, making it stronger.

Using 'Re' Formally

Mistake: “Usar 're' en un ensayo universitario: 'La economía está recaída'.”

Correction: Use 'muy' or 'extremadamente' in formal settings: 'La economía está muy caída'. 'Re' is only for casual chat.

Muy vs. Bien

Learners often confuse 'muy' and 'bien' when intensifying adjectives. Remember that 'muy' is the standard and safest choice in almost all situations. 'Bien' is more informal and often used colloquially to add extra emphasis, but avoid it in formal writing.

Related Translations

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