mest

Mest is a degree word used in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish to express the superlative degree of “much” or “many,” roughly equivalent to the English “most.” It indicates the greatest extent within a group or that something is the most typical or prominent among alternatives. The word can modify adjectives, adverbs, or nouns and appears in phrases such as “mest använda ordet” (the most used word), “mest intressant” (most interesting), or “mest kjente” (most well-known). In Danish, common constructions include “mest muligt” (as much as possible).

Etymology and cognates: Mest is found in Swedish (mest), Danish (mest), and Norwegian (mest) and shares a common origin with the English word “most.” The form and basic meaning have remained stable across the Scandinavian languages since the Old Norse period.

Usage notes: The exact placement and agreement of mest can vary with grammar and style in the three languages. It is not a separate comparative form; it marks the superlative degree and is used with adjectives, adverbs, or nouns to denote the greatest degree within a context. In addition to indicating a strict superlative, mest can also convey nuance such as “mostly” or “for the most part” in everyday speech, without asserting a strict majority.