péssimo

Péssimo is an adjective in Portuguese used to indicate that something is of very bad quality, poorly executed, or results in an unfavorable outcome. It can describe nouns or actions, and is commonly used to express strong negative evaluation. The feminine form is péssima, and the plural forms are péssimos (masculine) and péssimas (feminine).

Etymology and meaning: Péssimo derives from Latin pessimus, the superlative form meaning “the worst.” The word has been integrated into Portuguese as a strong intensifier of the idea of badness, functioning as a standard way to express a high degree of negativity in everyday language.

Usage notes: Péssimo is widely understood in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese, and it appears in formal and informal registers, though in formal writing it may be used sparingly due to its strong negative tone. It can modify nouns (uma decisão péssima) or describe situations and performances (um atendimento péssimo). The adverbial form is péssimamente, used to describe how something is done, though it is less common in everyday speech.

Examples:

- Foi uma péssima decisão.

- As condições estavam péssimas.

- O desempenho dele foi péssimo.

- Recebi péssimas notícias.