Fjerneste

Fjerneste is a Norwegian adjective that forms the superlative of fjern, meaning far or distant. It denotes the farthest in a group or the most distant location or moment and is used before a noun (attributive) or with a definite determiner, as in den fjerneste byen or det fjerneste landet. It can describe geographic distance, spatial arrangement, or temporal distance, and is common in both written and spoken Norwegian.

The word derives from Old Norse and has cognates in related Germanic languages; the suffix -este is a common way to form the superlative in Norwegian. In usage, fjerneste emphasizes the farthest member within a defined set or area, rather than simply the longest distance along a path (where lengst might be used) or the outermost position (where ytterst might be preferred). It appears in both Bokmål and Nynorsk contexts, though dialectal variation and historical forms may occur, including occasional forms such as fjernaste in older texts.

Examples of usage include: Den fjerneste byen i regionen ligger ved kysten. Vi tok tur til det fjerneste hjørnet av skogen. Det fjerneste punktet på kartet viste seg å være vanskelig å nå. In modern Norwegian, fjerneste is a standard choice for describing the most distant element in a clearly defined set, and its choice can be guided by nuance and regional preference.

Related terms include ytterst and lengst, which express closely related senses of distance with slightly different focus.