langsamsten

Langsamsten is the superlative form of the German adjective langsam, meaning the slowest. It is used to indicate the highest degree of slowness and appears most often in attributive position with a determiner, or in plural phrases where the adjective bears the -sten ending. For example: der langsamste Mann (the slowest man), die langsamsten Autos (the slowest cars). In adverbial use, the corresponding superlative is am langsamsten, as in Er fährt am langsamsten von allen.

Grammatical notes about langsamsten show that it is the form used in plural noun phrases under the strong or weak declension patterns of German adjective inflection. The singular form der langsamste Mann uses langsamste for the masculine singular, while the plural adjective takes the form langsamsten after the definite article die, yielding die langsamsten Autos. The underlying root is langsam, with the standard superlative suffix -sten added in appropriate declensional environments.

Etymology traces langsam from Middle High German langsam and Old High German langsam, with the modern German superlative -sten developing through the historical adjective declension system. The word is common in everyday German when contrasting multiple items by their relative slowness, such as vehicles, processes, or performances.

See also: German grammar, adjectives, comparative and superlative forms, adverbs.