Meaning
supreme, highest
- greatest, utmost
- great, outstanding
In a sentence
Accetto il vostro invito con sommo piacere.
I accept your invitation with great pleasure.
È una somma artista, la seguo da anni.
She is a great artist; I’ve followed her for years.
La questione è di somma importanza per l'azienda.
The matter is of the utmost importance to the company.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| sommo | masculine · singular |
| somma | feminine · singular |
| sommi | masculine · plural |
| somme | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Mostly formal or literary. In everyday speech, Italians usually prefer massimo, grandissimo, or eccellente depending on context.
- Often placed before the noun in elevated style: il sommo poeta. After the noun, it can sound more descriptive or less fixed.
- Do not confuse sommo with solo intensity words like molto. It suggests rank, excellence, or supreme degree, not just 'very.'