Vroegst

Vroegst is a Dutch word that functions as the superlative form of the adjective and adverb vroeg, meaning earliest. It is used to indicate the earliest point in a sequence or the earliest occurrence among options. The term appears most often in written or formal contexts, and in fixed collocations rather than as a freely inflected adjective in everyday speech.

Common usages include phrases such as het vroegst mogelijke moment (the earliest possible moment) and de vroegste opkomst (the earliest arrival). It can also occur in adverbial constructions conveying timing, for example in contexts that specify the earliest time at which something can occur. In practice, speakers may prefer alternative forms like vroegste in attributive position or other synonyms such as het vroegste tijdstip, depending on the noun and register.

Etymology traces back to vroeg, meaning early, with the suffix -st forming the superlative. In Dutch, this formation parallels how other short adjectives create a superlative, though the exact inflection can vary with gender and definiteness of the noun. The precise spelling and usage can be influenced by the surrounding syntax, and in many everyday expressions speakers might opt for related forms such as vroegste or simply kiezen voor tijdstippen like eerste (first) depending on emphasis and clarity.

Related terms include vroeg (early), vroeger (earlier), and de vroegste (the earliest, in attributive position with de-woorden). Overall, vroegst marks the extreme point in time within a comparison and remains most recognizable in formal or idiomatic phrases rather than everyday colloquial speech.