Traagste

Traagste is the superlative form of the Dutch adjective traag, meaning slow. It is used to denote the most slow among a group or the slowest instance of a process, object, or person. The word is formed by adding the suffix -ste to the base adjective traag, and it agrees with the noun it modifies when the noun is introduced with a definite article (de/het). For example: de traagste auto in de race; het traagste tempo van de groep.

In usage, traagste functions like any other Dutch superlative: it identifies a maximum degree of slowness within a set. The corresponding comparative form is trager (slower). For instance, “Deze methode is trager dan die,” contrasts speeds between two items, while “Deze methode is de traagste van alle opties” designates the single slowest option.

Nuance and context are important. traagste often conveys slowness tied to inefficiency or delays, rather than merely a neutral lack of speed. In many contexts, especially everyday language, synonyms such as langzaamste (the slowest) may be used interchangeably, though nuance can differ: traagste can carry a stronger emphasis on sluggish performance.

Related terms include traag (slow) and langzaam (slow, often neutral). The word has historical roots in Dutch and shares its basic meaning with other Germanic languages’ words for slow, with the modern form traagste serving as the standard Dutch superlative.