sämre/sämst

In Swedish, most adjectives form their comparative and superlative with the endings -are and -ast. However, 'dålig' (bad) is an irregular adjective with unique forms.

The progression is:

• Dålig (Positive) - bad
• Sämre (Comparative) - worse
• Sämst (Superlative) - worst

Using 'sämre' (worse):
This form is used to compare one thing to another, often with the word 'än' (than).
Exempel: Filmen var sämre än boken. (The movie was worse than the book.)

Using 'sämst' (worst):
This form is used to single out something as being the worst in the relevant comparison set, which need not contain three or more items. When used before a noun, it often takes a definite form like 'den sämsta', 'det sämsta', or 'de sämsta'.
Exempel: Det var den sämsta idén jag har hört. (That was the worst idea I have heard.)

Sämre is invariant for gender and number. The superlative contrasts bäst-like bare and definite patterns: sämst after är, but sämsta in den sämsta filmen. Do not omit the -a in that attributive construction.

Dåligare And Dåligast
Sämre–sämst is the recommended general pattern. Dåligare–dåligast also occurs, especially in informal language about health and sometimes moral quality. It is therefore too strong to label every such form impossible. Choose sämre–sämst for a neutral general comparison.