Superlatives: -astur and -stur

Level 2

The superlative adds -astur or -stur: ríkastur (richest), stærstur (biggest). Before a noun it is weak: hæsti tindur Íslands.

How It Works

Building the superlative.

  • ríkur → ríkari → ríkastur
  • sterkur → sterkari → sterkastur
  • stór → stærri → stærstur
  • ungur → yngri → yngstur
  • hár → hærri → hæstur

Adjectives in -legur take -ri in the comparative but -astur in the superlative: fallegur → fallegri → fallegastur. A few common adjectives are irregular: bestur, verstur, elstur (irregular comparison).

Strong forms: standing alone. After vera, with no noun after it, the superlative takes strong endings and agrees with the subject:

  • Hann er ríkastur (He is the richest)
  • Hún er ríkust (She is the richest)
  • Það er ríkast (It is the richest)
  • Þau eru ríkust (They are the richest)

Weak forms: before a definite noun. Before a noun with the article or a genitive after it, the superlative takes weak endings:

  • masculine: ríkasti maðurinn
  • feminine: ríkasta konan
  • neuter: ríkasta barnið
  • plural, all genders: ríkustu mennirnir

With a genitive after the noun, the noun does not need the article: hæsti tindur Íslands (the highest peak in Iceland), stærsta borg landsins (the biggest city in the country).

Notice that a becomes u in some endings: ríkust, ríkustu.

Examples (5)

  1. Hvannadalshnúkur er hæsti tindur Íslands.

    Hvannadalshnúkur is the highest peak in Iceland.

    Word by Word: Hvannadalshnúkur is highest peak Iceland's.

  2. Reykjavík er stærsta borg landsins.

    Reykjavík is the biggest city in the country.

    Word by Word: Reykjavík is biggest city the-country's.

  3. Hún er sterkust í bekknum.

    She is the strongest in the class.

    Word by Word: She is strongest in the-class.

    Strong feminine form, because no noun follows.

  4. Þetta er ódýrasti bíllinn.

    This is the cheapest car.

    Word by Word: This is cheapest the-car.

  5. Þetta er fallegasta kirkjan í bænum.

    This is the most beautiful church in town.

    Word by Word: This is most-beautiful the-church in the-town.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine form for a woman.

    Hún er sterkastur.
    Hún er sterkust.

    Standing alone after vera, the superlative agrees with the subject. The feminine is sterkust.

  • Using the strong form before a definite noun.

    Þetta er ódýrastur bíllinn.
    Þetta er ódýrasti bíllinn.

    Before a noun with the article, the superlative takes weak endings: ódýrasti, ódýrasta.

How It Connects

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

Superlatives: -astur and -sturLevel 2

Learn This First

The superlative builds on the comparative.