het + Superlative

Superlative with Het

Level 3

In Dutch, when a superlative (like 'fastest' or 'most beautiful') stands alone after a verb or describes an action, it is preceded by het and ends in -st.

How It Works

The het + superlative construction is the standard way to express the highest degree of a quality when the adjective is not directly followed by a noun.

1. Formation
The pattern is formed by: het + [adjective stem] + -st.

  • leuk → het leukst (the most fun)
  • snel → het snelst (the fastest)

2. Predicative vs. Adverbial Use
This form is used in two main ways:

  • Predicative: After linking verbs like zijn (to be) or worden (to become). Example: Deze film is het leukst.
  • Adverbial: To describe how an action is performed. Example: Zij werkt het hardst.

3. The -e Ending
In the predicate or when used as an adverb, you will often hear an extra -e in spoken Dutch (e.g., het leukste, het hardste). However, in formal writing, the form without -e is preferred and considered the standard. For adverbs specifically, using the -e is generally avoided in professional contexts.

4. Spelling Nuances

  • If an adjective ends in -s, you only add -t (e.g., vers → het verst).
  • Adjectives ending in -r follow the standard rule and do not add a -d- (e.g., duur → het duurst). This differs from the comparative form (duurder).
  • For adjectives ending in -st or -sch, use meest to avoid awkward clusters (e.g., het meest fantastisch).
  • Irregular forms include goed → het best, veel → het meest, and graag → het liefst.

Examples (6)

  1. Van alle steden vind ik Amsterdam het leukst.

    Of all cities, I find Amsterdam the most fun.

    Word by Word: Of all cities find I Amsterdam the fun-st.

    Here, 'het leukst' is used predicatively to describe the quality of the city.

  2. In de winter is het strand het rustigst.

    In winter, the beach is the quietest.

    Word by Word: In the winter is the beach the quiet-st.

    Even though 'strand' is a 'het-word', the 'het' here is part of the superlative construction, not the noun's article.

  3. Zij rent van iedereen het hardst.

    She runs the fastest of everyone.

    Word by Word: She runs of everyone the hard-st.

    This is an adverbial use, describing 'how' she runs.

  4. Ik drink het liefst koffie zonder suiker.

    I prefer to drink coffee without sugar (lit: I drink coffee most gladly).

    Word by Word: I drink the most-gladly coffee without sugar.

    'Het liefst' is the irregular superlative of 'graag'.

  5. Het is hier in de ochtend het mooist.

    It is most beautiful here in the morning.

    Word by Word: It is here in the morning the beautiful-st.

    Notice the 'double het': the first is the subject, the second is part of the superlative.

  6. Welke auto rijdt het best?

    Which car drives the best?

    Word by Word: Which car drives the best?

    'Best' is the irregular superlative of 'goed'.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting 'het' in the predicate.

    Deze pizza is lekkerst.
    Deze pizza is het lekkerst.

    When you compare with other things, 'het' is needed. Without 'het', 'lekkerst' only works when you compare one thing in different situations ('Hij is lekkerst warm').

  • Using 'de' with a bare superlative.

    De film is de spannendst.
    De film is het spannendst.

    'Het spannendst' is the pattern when no noun follows. 'De spannendste' (with -e) is also right when you mean 'the most exciting one'. 'De spannendst' without -e is wrong.

  • Adding an -e to the adverbial superlative.

    Different MeaningZij rent het snelste.
    Zij rent het snelst.

    Zij rent het snelste occurs, especially in speech. The form without -e (het snelst) is the usual choice in careful writing for adverbs and predicates.

How It Connects

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

het + SuperlativeLevel 3Superlative with Het

Learn This First

To use the 'het + superlative' construction (e.g., 'het mooist'), you first need to know how to form the superlative using the -st suffix. Additionally, you should understand how adjectives function when they stand alone after a verb (predicative use) and be familiar with 'het' as a definite marker.