Viktigaste

Viktigaste is the superlative form of the Swedish adjective viktig, meaning most important. It is used to express the highest degree of importance within a group, context, or set of items.

The superlative is formed by adding the suffix -aste to the stem of the adjective: viktig + aste yields viktigaste. An alternative spelling, viktigast, appears in some texts and dialects, though viktigaste is standard in formal writing. The form is used with singular or plural nouns and with both definite and indefinite constructions, for example: Det viktigaste är att komma i tid. Den viktigaste förklaringen var kostnaden. De viktigaste frågorna ställs vid mötet.

In practice, viktigaste functions as the predicate or as an attribute describing the noun. The word agrees with number and gender through the accompanying article or determiner, as in den viktigaste anledningen (the most important reason) or de viktigaste frågorna (the most important questions).

Viktigare is the comparative form meaning more important, used when comparing two or more items. The positive form viktiga describes something as important without comparison.

See also: Swedish grammar, degrees of comparison, adjective agreement.