How to Say "very" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “very” is “muy” — use 'muy' as the default, general-purpose intensifier for adjectives and adverbs when no other specific nuance is needed.
muy
mweeˈmui̯
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
byenˈbjen
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
Examples
Mi nuevo teléfono es súper rápido.
My new phone is super fast/extremely fast.
altamente
al-TAH-men-tealˈta.men.te
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.)
re
rehre
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.
misma
MEES-mahˈmisma
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`.
mero
MEH-rohˈmeɾo
Examples
Lo hice por el mero placer de viajar.
I did it for the mere pleasure of traveling.
Nos vemos en el mero centro de la plaza.
I'll see you right in the center of the square.
Él es el mero jefe de la empresa.
He is the main boss of the company.
Changing for Gender
Since this is an adjective, remember to change the ending to 'mera' if the thing you are describing is feminine, like 'la mera verdad'.
Position Matters
When this word comes before a person or thing, it usually adds emphasis ('the very' or 'the mere') rather than describing a physical quality.
Using 'mero' for 'merely'
Mistake: “Es mero una broma.”
Correction: Es meramente una broma or Solo es una broma.
propio
pro-pyoˈpɾo.pjo
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.
Muy vs. Bien vs. Súper
Related Translations
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