-st

Superlative Form

Level 2

The superlative (overtreffende trap) is formed by adding -st to the base adjective. It is used to compare three or more things.

How It Works

The superlative identifies the 'most' of a specific quality.

1. Formation Rules
Generally, you add -st to the base form of the adjective. Unlike English, which uses 'most' for long adjectives, Dutch prefers the suffix for almost everything (e.g., interessantst).

  • Standard: groot → grootst
  • Adjectives ending in -s: Add only -t to avoid a double 's' (vies → viest).
  • Adjectives ending in -r: Unlike the comparative -der form which adds a 'd', the superlative simply adds -st (duur → duurst).
  • Adjectives ending in -isch, -sk, -st, or -sd: These use meest to avoid unpronounceable clusters (e.g., meest logisch, meest juist).
  • Adjectives ending in -e or -en: Adjectives ending in a schwa (like roze) use meest. For adjectives ending in -en, standard adjectives can take -st (e.g., verlegenst), but past participles used as adjectives (like gebakken) always use meest (e.g., meest gebakken).

2. Spelling and Voicing
Unlike the comparative form, the superlative suffix -st usually keeps the syllable 'closed,' so long vowels remain doubled (groot → grootst).

Crucially, the f/s to v/z change seen in comparatives does not happen here. The original consonant remains:

  • lief → liever (comparative) but liefst (superlative)
  • boos → bozer (comparative) but boost (superlative)

3. Irregular Forms and Emphasis
Some common adjectives have irregular superlatives that you should become confident with:

  • goed (good) → best
  • veel (much/many) → meest
  • weinig (little/few) → minst
  • graag (gladly) → liefst

To emphasize the absolute maximum ('the very best' or 'greatest of all'), you can add the prefix aller- to the superlative: het allergrootst, de allerbeste.

4. Attributive Use (Before a Noun)
When the superlative comes before a noun, it takes an -e ending and is normally preceded by de, het or another definite word such as mijn.

  • De grootste stad (The biggest city)
  • Het kleinste kind (The smallest child)

5. Predicative Use (After a Verb)
When the superlative follows a verb like zijn, you can use two forms:

  • het + [adjective] + st: Dit boek is het leukst. (Standard/Adverbial style)
  • het + [adjective] + ste: Dit boek is het leukste. (Common and grammatically correct)

Examples (6)

  1. Amsterdam is de grootste stad van Nederland.

    Amsterdam is the biggest city in the Netherlands.

    Word by Word: Amsterdam is the biggest city of Netherlands.

    Here, 'grootst' gets an extra -e because it is placed before the noun 'stad'.

  2. In de winter is het in het noorden het koudst.

    In winter, it is coldest in the north.

    Word by Word: In the winter is it in the north the coldest.

    This uses the 'het + adjective + st' form because the superlative is used adverbially/predicatively.

  3. Dit is het beste boek dat ik heb gelezen.

    This is the best book I have read.

    Word by Word: This is the best book that I have read.

    'Best' is the irregular superlative of 'goed' (good). Like other superlatives before a noun, it takes an -e.

  4. Van alle boeken vond ik dit het interessantst.

    Of all the books, I found this one the most interesting.

    Word by Word: Of all books found I this the most-interesting.

    Even long adjectives like 'interessant' take the -st suffix in Dutch.

  5. Dit is de vieste kamer van het huis.

    This is the dirtiest room in the house.

    Word by Word: This is the dirtiest room of the house.

    Since 'vies' ends in -s, we only add -t (plus the -e for the noun) to form the superlative.

  6. Ik heb de meeste koekjes gegeten.

    I ate the most cookies.

    Word by Word: I have the most cookies eaten.

    'Meeste' is the irregular superlative of 'veel' (much/many).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'meest' for short or standard adjectives.

    Dit is de meest grote auto.
    Dit is de grootste auto.

    English speakers often try to use 'meest' (most), but Dutch almost always uses the -st suffix unless the word already ends in -st or -sd.

  • Forgetting the second 'het' in predicative superlatives.

    Het weer is lekkerst.
    Het weer is het lekkerst.

    When the superlative stands alone after a verb, standard Dutch normally uses 'het' with it (het lekkerst). Taaladvies treats the bare form as outdated.

  • Spelling errors with adjectives ending in -s.

    Dat is het viesst.
    Dat is het viest.

    If an adjective ends in -s, you only add -t, not another -st.

How It Connects

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

-stLevel 2Superlative Form

Learn This First

To learn the superlative, you need to understand how Dutch adjectives are inflected with -e, how the definite article system (de/het) works to mark the superlative, and the general concept of comparing adjectives.

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