Bekanntesten

Bekanntesten is the superlative form of the German adjective bekannt, meaning most well-known or famous. It is used to designate that something is the most well-known within a group or category. In practice, it appears most often before plural nouns, for example die bekanntesten Städte, die bekanntesten Forscher, or die bekanntesten Beispiele.

Grammatically, bekanntesten is the plural superlative ending formed with -esten. Its exact ending can be influenced by the surrounding determiner or article. Examples include:

- Nominativ/akkusativ plural: die bekanntesten Städte

- Dativ plural: in den bekanntesten Städten

- Genitiv plural: der bekanntesten Städte

In singular forms, the corresponding superlatives are der bekannteste (masculine), die bekannteste (feminine), das bekannteste (neuter), while the adverbial use often appears as am bekanntesten.

Usage and nuance: bekanntesten emphasizes the peak of fame or recognition within a defined set, such as a list, group, or context. It is common in journalism, marketing, encyclopedic writing and everyday speech when comparing multiple entities to highlight which are most widely known.

Etymology: bekannt comes from Old High German bekant, related to the Proto-Germanic root meaning known or known to many. The superlative ending -esten is typical of German adjectives in the plural and is used to form phrases that designate the utmost degree within a group.

See also: tunnet terms like bekannt, bekannteste (singular form), and related comparative constructions in German.