Extrêmement

Extrêmement is a French adverb meaning “to a very great extent” or “extremely.” It functions as an intensifier for adjectives, other adverbs, or past participles, and is common in both formal writing and everyday speech. Examples include extrêmement rapide (extremely fast), extrêmement bien (extremely well), and extrêmement rare (extremely rare).

Etymology and form: the word is derived from the adjective extrême (extreme) by adding the adverbial suffix -ment. The spelling includes a circumflex on the e of extrême, and the resulting form is extrêmement. The adverb is invariable, meaning it does not change for gender or number.

Usage notes: extrêmement is stronger than très and often signals a high degree or intensity. It can appear in a wide range of registers, from literary to journalistic to conversational French. While it can be used ironically in some contexts, its primary function is to convey strong emphasis.

See also: extrême (adjective), extrême-ment as a related form, and related intensifiers such as très or vraiment for comparison.

In summary, extrêmmement serves as a primary intensifier in French, highlighting the degree of quality or action with a sense of ultimate extremity.