härteste

Härteste is the superlative form of the German adjective hart, meaning the hardest or toughest. It is used to describe something that exceeds all others in hardness, difficulty, or severity. In attributive position before a noun, it declines like other adjectives: der härteste Mann (the toughest man), die härteste Prüfung (the hardest exam), das härteste Stück (the hardest piece). Without a definite article, the strong endings apply: härtester Mann, härteste Prüfung, härtestes Stück. In predicative use after sein or other verbs, you commonly hear der härteste or ist der härteste, as in Der Berg ist der härteste.

Härteste can also function as a noun when capitalized: das Härteste, meaning “the hardest thing” or “the most severe part.” This nominal use is common in speech and writing, for example: Das Härteste an der Situation war die Ungewissheit.

Adverbs formed from the adjective use the same stem: am härtesten, meaning “the most strongly” or “to the greatest extent.” The term is neutral in literal use, but it can carry emphasis in vivid or evaluative contexts, such as sports, testing, or descriptions of hardship.

Etymology traces hart to the Germanic root for “hard,” with the common superlative suffix -este. The word is widely understood in German-speaking areas and appears in both formal and colloquial registers.