"Muy Mucho" vs "Muchísimo"

Question

I was always taught that "muy mucho" doesn't exist in Spanish and that everyone says "muchísimo". However, I've noticed the phrase "muy mucho" a couple of times on the internet. So 2 questions:

1) Has anyone ever heard any native speaker use the phrase "muy mucho"? If so, where?

2) How do people who don't say "muy mucho" react to this phrase?

For example, many people in the US say "ain't", but people who don't say it regard it as wrong and a lot of people stereotype those who say "ain't" as uneducated. Such stigmas exist in all languages, so it's not inconceivable that it also exists with people who say "muy mucho".

Good question! - Raja-jani, Jan 24, 2015

The only ones who use "muy mucho" are learners who are new to Spanish. See my post below. - Daniela2041, Jan 24, 2015

Answer 1

In Spanish we have the "ísimo" suffix which takes care of that. (very + adjective.)

Me gustan muchísimo los tacos. I like tacos very much.

However in Mexicali, Mexico and other places you will hear "mucho muy"

¡Ramón es mucho muy guapo! Ramón is really good looking.

As I said, you don't see it or hear it everywhere but it's there.

Thanks, Dani. By the way, I never get too enthusiastic about things to use more than 'mucho'. - Raja-jani, Jan 24, 2015

Spanish speakers use superlatives all the time! In time you will too. - Daniela2041, Jan 24, 2015

¡Gracias! Is there any stigma attached to "mucho muy", or do people not care if you use it? - HackerKing, Jan 24, 2015

According to Julian Chivi, whose post is also on here, the expression is used all over Mexico. He lives there, so he should know. It is not exactly "formal" Spanish though. Ask Julian to be sure. - Daniela2041, Jan 24, 2015

I think it is Spain?.)) http://www.muymucho.es/img/franquicias.jpg - Winand, Mar 6, 2017

Answer 2

I agree with Daniela. "mucho muy" as well as "muchísimo" are both very common in all of Mexico. I have never heard "muy mucho" even once in my life, so my reaction would be: This expression sounds very unnatural.

I would agree with what you have always been taught, that it doesn´t exist - only in the minds of those who bastardize the language.

:) - Daniela2041, Jan 24, 2015

I winced (cringed) inside when I saw, 'muy mucho' it looked /sounded terrible to my ears! I have never heard mucho muy before, but then I haven't met many (if any?) Spanish-spreaking Mexican people, personally (face to face ) lol -Mexican p - - FELIZ77, Jan 24, 2015

¡Gracias! Is there a stigma associated with the use of "mucho muy", or do people not care if you use it (in Mexico)? - HackerKing, Jan 24, 2015

In Mexico there is no stigma with "mucho muy" - 005faa61, Jan 24, 2015

Answer 3

This ugly colloquialism "muy mucho" is very common in Northern Argentina. My brother-in-law is from Salta and uses it constantly. I hate him for that. It goes against my deepest-seated principles and sense of the aesthetics of the Spanish language. This expression will generally be enough to qualify you as uneducated. Not only in Spain but in most of Ibero-America, from Santo Domingo to Patagonia to only names places I know well. The correct equivalent of "very much" is "muchísimo", and "muy" has no augmented form. Si realmente es mucho más grande que "muy grande", entonces hay que decir algo como "extremadamente grande", o utilizar la forma aumentativa -ísimo del adjetivo. Y decir "muchísimo dinero", y no "muy mucho dinero". Jacques.

Answer 4

The suffix -ísimo is called superlativo absoluto. An absolute superlative adjective gives an extreme characteristic to the noun.

Never heard of muy mucho, perhaps used in other countries, but at least not where I live. (Chile.)

There are many examples like muy guapo = guapísimo, muy rico = riquísimo, and so on.

Answer 5

It could be used like this:

"Me gusta muy mucho aquello que me enseñaste."

It is used to emphasize how much you liked something. It would be used in oral communication, it is a colloquial register and it would be frowned upon if used in a formal text.

Hope it was helpful,

Ulises TM

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