Allerkleinsten

Allerkleinsten is a German superlative construction that means the smallest of all or the tiniest. It is formed by combining the determiner aller- with the superlative form kleinsten, and it can function as an intensified adjective or, when used as a noun, as a plural noun referring to those who are the smallest.

Usage and grammar

As an attributive adjective, allerkleinsten typically modifies a noun in the plural or singular forms in contexts that emphasize extreme smallness. Examples include unter allerkleinsten Kindern (among the smallest children) and das allerkleinste Tier (the smallest animal). When used as a noun, the word can be capitalized: Die Allerkleinsten im Kurs erhielten eine Auszeichnung. The expression often carries a note of emphasis, affection, or humor, depending on context.

Etymology and variation

The form combines the intensifying prefix all- with the comparative/superlative ending kleinsten. This pattern is part of standard German intensifier construction, alongside other forms such as allerschönste or allerwichtigsten. In practice, allerkleinsten is usually written as a single word when used as an adjective, while the noun usage tends to be capitalized.

See also

Related intensified superlatives include allerschönste, allerwichtigsten, and the broader all- prefix used to create emphatic expressions in German. Allerkleinste can appear in various stylistic registers, from colloquial speech to literary prose.