Formstarke

Formstarke is a German term used to describe someone or something that currently shows strong form or high performance. It is formed from Form, meaning current condition or performance, and stark, meaning strong. The expression emphasizes recent success and consistency rather than long-term talent alone.

In practice, formstarke is most common in sports journalism and commentary, where teams or athletes are praised for a run of good results, sound performances, or decisive demonstrations of skill. It can also be extended by analogy to other fields, such as music or academics, though its use outside sports is less frequent and often more informal.

Linguistic notes: the corresponding noun is Formstärke, referring to the strength of one’s form. Formstarke can function as an attributive adjective, as in eine formstarke Mannschaft, or, less commonly, as a nominalized plural Die Formstarken to denote people who are currently in good form. The term tends to highlight short- to medium-term performance rather than overall ability or potential.

Related terms include Formkurve (form trajectory), Leistungsform (level of performance), and Formtief (slump in form). Critics sometimes view formstarke as a catchphrase or cliché in sports reporting, but it remains a common shorthand for describing contemporary high performance.