Superlative -ste

Level 2

For the most, add -ste, usually with die: die grootste huis (the biggest house), die mooiste dag (the most beautiful day).

How It Works

1. The basic rule: add -ste. groot → grootste, klein → kleinste, mooi → mooiste, slim → slimste, vinnig → vinnigste, duur → duurste.

2. Usually with die. Before a noun and on its own, the superlative normally takes die: Dit is die grootste huis in die straat. Sy is die slimste in die klas. With a verb it works as an adverb: Wie hardloop die vinnigste?

3. Built on the basic form. Unlike the comparative, the superlative keeps the dictionary form of the word:

  • koud → kouer → koudste
  • oud → ouer → oudste
  • hoog → hoër → hoogste
  • nuut → nuwer → nuutste
  • grof → growwer → grofste

4. After s, write both letters. The s of the word and the s of -ste both stay: snaaks → snaaksste, vars → varsste, los → losste.

5. No extra -e. The superlative already ends in -e, so nothing more is added before a noun: die mooiste dag.

6. Never both. Do not combine -ste with mees: die mees mooiste is wrong. Some longer adjectives use mees instead (see meer and mees), and a few are irregular, such as goed → beste (see irregular comparisons).

Examples (6)

  1. Dit is die grootste huis in die straat.

    This is the biggest house in the street.

    Word by Word: It is the biggest house in the street.

  2. Sy is die slimste in die klas.

    She is the cleverest in the class.

    Word by Word: She is the cleverest in the class.

  3. Dit was die mooiste dag van my lewe.

    It was the most beautiful day of my life.

    Word by Word: It was the most-beautiful day of my life.

  4. Kaapstad is die oudste stad in Suid-Afrika.

    Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa.

    Word by Word: Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa.

    Oud keeps its d: oudste, although the comparative is ouer.

  5. Julie is die koudste maand hier.

    July is the coldest month here.

    Word by Word: July is the coldest month here.

    Koud keeps its d: koudste, although the comparative is kouer.

  6. Wie hardloop die vinnigste?

    Who runs the fastest?

    Word by Word: Who runs the fastest?

    With a verb, die + superlative works as an adverb.

Common Mistakes

  • Combining mees with -ste.

    Dit was die mees mooiste dag.
    Dit was die mooiste dag.

    An adjective takes either -ste or mees, never both. Mooi takes -ste.

  • Writing only one s after a word ending in s.

    Dit is die snaakste grap.
    Dit is die snaaksste grap.

    Snaaks ends in s, and -ste adds its own s, so the correct spelling has two: snaaksste.

  • Building the superlative on the comparative stem.

    Dit is die kouste dag van die jaar.
    Dit is die koudste dag van die jaar.

    The superlative uses the basic form koud, so it keeps the d: koudste. Only the comparative drops it: kouer.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Superlative -steLevel 2

Learn This First

The superlative adds -ste, after the comparative -er.

Words in This Pattern

-ste