slimste

Slimste is the superlative form of the Dutch adjective slim, meaning clever or smart. In Dutch, slim describes someone who is quick to understand, resourceful, or practical; slimste denotes the person or thing with the highest degree of that quality. In Afrikaans, die slimste carries the same meaning and uses the same morphological pattern, reflecting shared West Germanic roots.

Formation and grammar: The suffix -ste forms many Dutch superlatives for one-syllable adjectives and is usually used with a definite article: de slimste, het slimste. The phrase can describe people (de slimste van de klas) or things (de slimste oplossing). In predicative position, the superlative typically accompanies the verb to be and does not require additional inflection beyond de/het.

Usage and examples: In everyday Dutch, slimste appears in comparisons and in promotional or descriptive language. Examples include Zij is de slimste van de klas. The term also appears in media titles, such as De Slimste Mens ter Wereld, a Flemish television quiz show whose title translates to The Cleverest Person in the World and which has featured various hosts since its inception.

Notes: The word functions as an adjective and remains distinct from related forms like slimmer (more clever) or slim even in compound phrases. Etymologically, slim derives from older West Germanic roots shared by Dutch and Afrikaans, with -ste forming the standard Dutch superlative ending.