hiper

Hiper is a productive linguistic prefix used in several language families to convey meaning related to above, beyond, or excessive. Borrowed from the Greek hyper-, it is adapted in many Iberian languages and other languages as 'hiper-' and attached to bases to form new words expressing intensified or supra- qualities or quantities.

In Spanish and Portuguese, hiper- forms common vocabulary across science, commerce, and daily speech. Examples include hipermercado (hypermarket), hiperrealismo (hyperrealism), hipertensión (hypertension in Spanish) and hipertensão (Portuguese).

In computing and information contexts, variations include hipervínculo in Spanish for hyperlink and hiperligação in Portuguese. The exact meaning of words built with hiper- depends on context, ranging from simply above or beyond to explicitly excessive.

The prefix is not a standalone word in modern usage but an affix that combines with roots to create new terms. In some contexts, 'hiper' may also appear as a branding element or a name, independent of its linguistic function.