herkullisimman

Herkullisimman is a Finnish grammatical form that serves as the genitive singular of the superlative adjective herkullisin, meaning “the most delicious.” In Finnish, adjectives can express degree through the comparative (herkullisempi) and the superlative (herkullisin). When the superlative adjective is used to modify a noun in the genitive case, its form becomes herkullisimman.

The word is typically found in phrases where the noun it modifies is in the genitive case. For example, in the expression herkullisimman kahvin tuoksu, “the aroma of the most delicious coffee,” or herkullisimman piirakan resepti, “the recipe for the most delicious pie.” In such constructions, the noun preceding or following the adjective is marked for genitive, and herkullisimman agrees with that noun in case and number.

Usage notes and semantics: herkullisimman retains the meaning of “the most delicious,” but its use is constrained to contexts requiring a genitive noun or a possessive-like construction. In everyday labeling or straightforward comparisons, speakers often use the nominative form herkullisin (the most delicious) without genitive concord.

Etymology: the form derives from the adjective herkullinen (delicious) with the standard Finnish superlative suffix -in, yielding herkullisin. The genitive singular of that superlative is formed by adding -n, producing herkullisimman.