Liefst

Liefst is a Dutch word used primarily as an adverb meaning most or preferably. In contemporary usage, it appears most often in the fixed phrase het liefst, which expresses preference or the highest degree, similar to “most preferably” or “the most” in English.

Etymology and form: The word derives from lief, meaning dear or beloved, with the suffix -st that historically formed superlative or adverbial degrees in Dutch. The standard modern construction is het liefst; the standalone form liefst is rare and mostly found in older or more poetic contexts.

Usage: Het liefst is used to express what someone would prefer or what they would most like to do. Examples include: Ik eet het liefst kaas. (I like cheese best / I would most like to eat cheese.) Dat zou ik het liefst vermijden. (That is what I would most like to avoid / I would prefer to avoid that.) The phrase often accompanies verbs of preference or willingness and can be used in both spoken and written Dutch.

Variants and related terms: The concept is closely related to phrases like bij voorkeur (by preference) or het meest (the most). In comparisons, het liefst usually conveys a personal preference or an ideal choice. The German equivalent am liebsten serves a similar function in expressing the strongest preference.

See also: Lief (dear), Liefde (love), Dutch grammar and vocabulary on superlatives and adverbs.