høyeste

Høyeste is the superlative form of the Norwegian adjective høy, meaning high or tall. It is used to express the greatest height or degree within a defined group or context. In Bokmål, høyeste is the standard spelling, and it can serve both attributive and predicative functions, as in Den høyeste bygningen i byen orDet høyeste punktet på fjellet. In Nynorsk, the corresponding form is høgaste.

The word is commonly used when comparing multiple objects in terms of height, altitude, or quality. It can describe physical height, such as a mountain or building, as well as figurative height, such as the highest level of achievement. Phrases like Han er den høyeste i klassen or Dette er det høyeste nivået illustrate its use in everyday language.

Etymologically, høyeste comes from the Old Norse há, related to the Danish høj and the English high. The form is part of a broader set of degree forms that mark the highest degree of an attribute in Norwegian grammar.

Usage notes: høyeste can appear in definite constructions with articles or demonstratives (den høyeste, det høyeste), and it remains the standard superlative form in Bokmål. In Nynorsk, the equivalent form is høgaste. The term is widely understood across Norwegian dialects and appears in encyclopedic, descriptive, and comparative contexts.