seríssimo

Seríssimo is a Portuguese word that translates to "very serious" or "extremely serious" in English. It is an intensifier, meaning it adds emphasis to the adjective "sério" (serious). The word is formed by combining "ser" (to be) or "sério" (serious) with the superlative suffix "-íssimo," which indicates a very high degree.

In common usage, seríssimo conveys a strong sense of gravity or importance. It might be used to describe a situation, a person's demeanor, or an event that demands significant attention and caution. For example, one might say "a situação é seríssima" (the situation is very serious) or "ele estava com uma expressão seríssima" (he had a very serious expression). The term can also be employed humorously to exaggerate the seriousness of a trivial matter, creating a playful contrast between the intensity of the word and the lightness of the subject. This ironic usage is common in informal conversation and online communication. The grammatical structure of adding "-íssimo" to adjectives is a common way in Portuguese to create superlatives, and seríssimo is a prime example of this linguistic feature.