In 15 Seconds
- Used to signal that a topic is a top priority.
- Combines two intensifiers for maximum impact and urgency.
- Common in professional settings and serious personal conversations.
Meaning
This phrase is used to emphasize that something is incredibly important or urgent. It's like saying something is of 'utmost importance' but with a bit more Portuguese flair and intensity.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a high-stakes business meeting
Este contrato é de demais extrema importância para a nossa empresa.
This contract is of extreme importance to our company.
Texting a friend about a huge secret
Preciso te contar uma coisa de demais extrema importância!
I need to tell you something of extreme importance!
Talking to a doctor about a health concern
O resultado desse exame é de demais extrema importância.
The result of this exam is of extreme importance.
Cultural Background
Brazilians often use 'demais' at the end of formal phrases to 'soften' the coldness of formal speech while keeping the intensity high. In Portugal, the phrase is usually kept strictly as 'de extrema importância'. Adding 'demais' might sound like a Brazilianism or redundant. Formal Portuguese in Angola often mirrors the structure of PT-PT but with a very rhythmic and emphatic delivery. Using this phrase in a LinkedIn post or a resume summary can significantly boost the perceived 'professionalism' of your Portuguese.
Email Power Move
Use 'Assunto: De extrema importância' in an email to get a faster response, but use it sparingly!
Agreement Trap
Remember: 'extrema' is feminine. Don't let the 'o' in 'extremo' slip in just because you are used to masculine adjectives.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to signal that a topic is a top priority.
- Combines two intensifiers for maximum impact and urgency.
- Common in professional settings and serious personal conversations.
What It Means
Think of this as the 'VIP' of importance. When you use demais extrema importância, you aren't just saying something matters. You are saying it is a top priority that cannot wait. The word demais here acts as an intensifier, pushing extrema even further. It is the verbal equivalent of underlining a sentence three times and adding a red exclamation point.
How To Use It
You usually place it after a noun using the preposition de. For example, you would say 'a matter of...' followed by this phrase. It sounds sophisticated and serious. You can use it to talk about health, business deals, or even a secret you are about to tell your best friend. It makes people stop and listen because they know something big is coming.
When To Use It
Use it when the stakes are high. In a business meeting, use it to describe a deadline. At a doctor's office, use it to describe a symptom. If you are texting a friend about a party that is 'life or death' for your social life, go for it. It works best when you want to sound persuasive or authoritative. Just don't use it for what you want for lunch—unless it's a very special lunch.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase for trivial things. If you say your choice of socks is of demais extrema importância, people will think you are being sarcastic or a bit of a drama queen. Also, in very casual slang-heavy conversations, it might feel a bit too 'stiff.' It is a heavy-duty phrase, so don't wear it out on small talk. Keep it for the moments that actually carry weight.
Cultural Background
Portuguese speakers love to use superlatives to show emotion and sincerity. Using 'extreme' isn't always enough; we like to add more layers to show we really mean it. This specific construction reflects a formal tradition in Brazilian and Portuguese rhetoric. It’s about showing respect for the topic at hand. It shows you are a person who understands the gravity of a situation.
Common Variations
You might hear people just say extrema importância or muita importância. Some might say importância absurda if they are being more informal. However, demais extrema importância remains the gold standard for sounding both serious and urgent. It’s the kind of phrase you’d hear in a movie right before the hero saves the world.
Usage Notes
This is a high-register collocation. While grammatically sound, its double-intensification makes it lean towards formal or highly emotive speech. Use it to command attention.
Email Power Move
Use 'Assunto: De extrema importância' in an email to get a faster response, but use it sparingly!
Agreement Trap
Remember: 'extrema' is feminine. Don't let the 'o' in 'extremo' slip in just because you are used to masculine adjectives.
The Brazilian 'Demais'
Adding 'demais' at the end makes you sound much more like a native speaker in Brazil. It shows passion!
Examples
6Este contrato é de demais extrema importância para a nossa empresa.
This contract is of extreme importance to our company.
Sets a professional and urgent tone for the team.
Preciso te contar uma coisa de demais extrema importância!
I need to tell you something of extreme importance!
Adds a sense of drama and excitement to the gossip.
O resultado desse exame é de demais extrema importância.
The result of this exam is of extreme importance.
Conveys the seriousness of a medical situation.
Sua educação é um assunto de demais extrema importância para nós.
Your education is a matter of extreme importance to us.
Used to emphasize values and long-term goals.
A cor do guardanapo é de demais extrema importância para a festa, claro.
The color of the napkin is of extreme importance for the party, of course.
The exaggeration makes it clear the speaker is joking.
O tema da minha tese é de demais extrema importância para a área.
The theme of my thesis is of extreme importance to the field.
Demonstrates academic rigor and confidence.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
A segurança dos passageiros é ___ ___ importância.
We use the preposition 'de' and the feminine adjective 'extrema' to match 'importância'.
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a formal business email?
Select the best option:
This is the standard formal collocation for professional contexts.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural Brazilian response.
Chefe: 'Você terminou o relatório?' Funcionário: 'Ainda não, mas vou focar nisso agora. Eu sei que é ___.'
In a Brazilian workplace, adding 'demais' adds the right level of earnestness and intensity.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
When to use 'De Extrema Importância'
Professional
- • Contracts
- • Deadlines
- • Strategy
Personal
- • Health
- • Safety
- • Family
Academic
- • Theses
- • Research
- • Ethics
Practice Bank
3 exercisesA segurança dos passageiros é ___ ___ importância.
We use the preposition 'de' and the feminine adjective 'extrema' to match 'importância'.
Select the best option:
This is the standard formal collocation for professional contexts.
Chefe: 'Você terminou o relatório?' Funcionário: 'Ainda não, mas vou focar nisso agora. Eu sei que é ___.'
In a Brazilian workplace, adding 'demais' adds the right level of earnestness and intensity.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsNo, 'extrema' is already a superlative. Use 'de extrema importância' or 'de muita importância', but not both together.
It's not better, just more formal. Use 'extrema' for 90% of professional situations.
It's a way to add emotional emphasis to a formal structure, making it sound both serious and sincere.
Yes, you can say 'Você é de extrema importância para mim,' but it sounds very dramatic and formal.
Related Phrases
de suma importância
synonymOf the highest importance
de vital importância
similarOf vital importance
prioridade máxima
similarTop priority
sem importância
contrastUnimportant
