Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| muy | /ˈmwi/ /ˈmui/ |
| requete- | /rekete/ |
| recontra | /rekontɾa/ (from spelling rules) |
| requetecontra | /reketekontɾa/ (from spelling rules) |
| hartamente | /aɾtamente/ (from spelling rules) |
The primary way to express that something is to a high degree is by using muy.
Which one should you use?
The form requete- is a prefix that must be attached directly to the adjective it modifies, such as requetebuenos. The form recontra is an informal way to add intense emphasis, similar to saying "super" or "extremely" in English. While muy modifies adjectives, the word mucho is used to indicate a large quantity of nouns.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal tone that conveys an extremely high degree, you can use sumamente. In professional contexts or when discussing skills and abilities, altamente is used to mean "highly". Conversely, recontra is an informal way to add emphasis.
How does it change in a sentence?
Muy is used to modify adjectives and adverbs, but it cannot be used to modify nouns. Because requete- is a prefix, it must be attached directly to the adjective it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmwi/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using muy before a noun. For example, do not say muy tiempo.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, you can stack prefixes to create hyper-intense words, such as requetecontra-, to say something is 'extremely' or 'very, very' something.
- While muy is the standard for 'very', some regions use bien as an intensifier, such as bien lejos to mean 'very far'.
- The Spanish word muy is actually a descendant of the Latin word multus, which means 'many' or 'much'.
Examples in context
- Él es muy alto.He is very tall.This sentence uses muy to describe someone's height.Tatoeba #1129861 by marcelostockle, translation #292154 by CK
- No va muy bien.It's not going very well.This sentence uses muy to describe the progress of a situation.Tatoeba #4431462 by Shishir, translation #4011944 by CK
- Él es muy guapo.He is very handsome.This sentence uses muy to describe someone's appearance.Tatoeba #449946 by Shishir, translation #400911 by CK
- Ella es muy inteligenteShe is very intelligent
- El libro es muy interesanteThe book is very interesting
- Él está sumamente contentoHe is extremely happy
- La película fue sumamente emocionanteThe movie was extremely exciting
- Es altamente recomendado estudiar españolIt is highly recommended to study Spanish
- Posees un nivel altamente desarrollado de liderazgoYou have a highly developed level of leadership
- La película estuvo super buenaThe movie was really good
- Me siento super cansado/aI feel really tired
- Esa fiesta fue mega divertidaThat party was super fun
- ¡Tu nuevo corte de pelo luce mega bien!Your new haircut looks really great!
- 3958 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are eating at a restaurant.
- SofíaLa comida está muy rica, Alejandro.The food is very tasty, Alejandro.
- AlejandroSí, el servicio también es muy rápido.Yes, the service is also very fast.
- SofíaEs un lugar muy agradable.It is a very pleasant place.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Sofía.You are right, Sofía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “very” translations and entries muy, requete-, hartamente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries muy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
