demasiado

Demasiado is a Spanish word that functions as both an adverb and an adjective, conveying excess or excessiveness. It translates roughly as "too much," "too many," or "overly," depending on the context. As an adverb it typically modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, while as an adjective it agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes.

Etymology and usage notes: Demasiado comes from the phrase de más, meaning "more than what is needed" or "excessive." The form has developed to stand alone as a determiner and modifier in modern Spanish. It is widely used in everyday speech and writing across dialects, with minor regional variations in emphasis or tone.

Grammar and examples: When used as an adverb, demasiado often precedes the element it modifies, as in bebió demasiado (he drank too much) or corrió demasiado rápido (he ran too fast). As an adjective, it agrees with the noun: una cantidad demasiado grande de agua (an amount too large of water), demasiadas personas (too many people), demasiado problemas (too many problems). It can also appear before adjectives or past participles: es demasiado caro, parece demasiado tarde.

Nuances and related terms: Demasiado conveys a negative or critical sense of excess, though it can be neutral in phrases like demasiado temprano (too early) in a purely descriptive context. Related terms include excesivo and excesivamente, which can carry a more formal or clinical tone. In negation, phrases like no demasiado can soften the statement to “not too much.”