paling + Adjective

Superlative with Paling

Level 2

Place paling before an adjective to identify the highest degree of a quality within a relevant comparison set. It is a common way to express English the most or -est.

How It Works

The adverb paling is one way to form the superlative degree in Indonesian.

Key Characteristics:

  • No Syllable Rule: Indonesian uses the same paling + adjective structure regardless of adjective length. Paling covers both English '-est' and 'most'.
  • Position: It primarily precedes the adjective or adverb it modifies. However, it can also directly precede certain verbs of preference or emotion, such as suka (like), benci (hate), or sayang (love) to mean 'like the most' (paling suka), 'hate the most' (paling benci), etc.
  • Register and Spelling: Paling is a separate, standalone word. While the prefix ter- (e.g., terbesar) is also very common in both casual and formal speech, TBBI notes that ter- generally does not attach to already prefixed adjectives and recommends paling berbahaya rather than terberbahaya. Use paling menarik or paling berbahaya as clear standard models; do not infer that ter- has the same productivity on every derived adjective.
  • Negative Superlatives: A negative quality can be compared with paling tidak + adjective (e.g., paling tidak masuk akal for 'the least logical' or 'most unreasonable'). Read the full phrase: paling tidak can also mean at least.
  • Comparison Context: The group or context of comparison is typically introduced using di antara (among) or dari (of/from).
  • Nouns: To express the greatest number or amount of a noun in this ordinary quantity pattern, you use a quantifier like banyak (many) placed before the noun (e.g., paling banyak orang).
  • Idiomatic 'At Least': The phrases paling tidak, paling kurang, and paling sedikit are commonly used as adverbs meaning 'at least'. Context usually makes it clear whether paling tidak means 'the least' or 'at least'.
  • Choose the Intended Degree: Paling besar means biggest within a comparison set; besar sekali means very big without identifying the maximum. For a clear basic description choose the one that matches the intended meaning rather than piling degree markers together.
  • Use of 'yang': It is very common to see yang before paling to identify 'the one' that possesses the quality.

Very Versus Most: If you mean a film is very good but not the best within the same comparison set, say Film ini sangat bagus, tapi bukan yang terbaik. A contrast between paling bagus and terbaik could be meaningful if the speaker explicitly compares different criteria or sets; it is not automatically a syntax error.

Examples (6)

  1. Ini adalah gunung paling tinggi di Indonesia.

    This is the highest mountain in Indonesia.

    Word by Word: This is mountain most high in Indonesia.

    Here, 'paling' modifies the adjective 'tinggi' (high) to mean 'highest'.

  2. Siapa siswa yang paling pintar di kelas ini?

    Who is the smartest student in this class?

    Word by Word: Who student [relative marker] most smart in class this?

    The relative marker yang is used here to specify 'the one who is' the smartest.

  3. Makanan ini paling tidak enak di antara semuanya.

    This food is the least delicious among all of them.

    Word by Word: Food this most not delicious in between all-nya.

    To form a negative superlative ('the least'), use 'paling tidak' before the adjective. The group being compared is introduced with di antara (among).

  4. Dia berlari paling cepat dari semua pelari.

    He runs the fastest of all the runners.

    Word by Word: He run most fast from all runner.

    The preposition dari (from/of) is often used to define the group being compared.

  5. Kelas ini memiliki paling banyak siswa.

    This class has the most students.

    Word by Word: Class this have most many student.

    To express the greatest number of students in this quantity pattern, paling modifies banyak, followed by the noun siswa.

  6. Kamu harus membaca paling sedikit dua buku.

    You must read at least two books.

    Word by Word: You must read most little two book.

    The phrase 'paling sedikit' (or 'paling tidak') is an idiomatic expression meaning 'at least'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using double superlatives (combining 'paling' with the 'ter-' prefix).

    Gedung ini paling tertinggi.
    Gedung ini paling tinggi. (or) Gedung ini tertinggi.

    Tertinggi already expresses the highest degree, so in this standard model choose paling tinggi or tertinggi. This is a restriction on doubling the superlative meaning, not on every word beginning with ter-.

  • Trying to use 'paling' directly with a noun or using incorrect word order.

    Saya punya paling buku.
    Saya punya paling banyak buku.

    For the intended greatest number of books, put the quantity word banyak between paling and buku: paling banyak buku. This is different from most books meaning a majority, expressed by sebagian besar buku.

How It Connects

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

paling + AdjectiveLevel 2Superlative with Paling

Learn This First

To understand the superlative 'paling', a learner needs to be comfortable with basic adjective placement and how Indonesian uses adverbs of degree (like 'sangat') to modify adjectives within a sentence.

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Words in This Pattern

paling