snelst

Snelst is the superlative form of the Dutch adjective snel, meaning the fastest or quickest. It is used to express that something or someone has the highest speed within a group or context. In standard Dutch, the superlative can be formed in two ways: as an attributive adjective before a noun, where the form is snelste (for example, de snelste auto; de snelste route), and as an adverb or predicative phrase, where the form het snelst is used (for example, hij loopt het snelst van iedereen).

Etymology and usage notes: snelst derives from snel together with the common superlative suffix -st. The adverbial or predicative use with het snelst is especially common in questions and comparisons of actions, such as, Wie kan het snelst rennen? When snel is used to describe a noun directly, the attributive form snelste is preferred: dit is de snelste route.

Rules and variants: In contemporary Dutch, het snelst is typically used for adverbial or predicative superlatives, while de/noun phrases use the attributive snelste (the fastest). Some dialects or older texts may feature verschillende spellings or uses, but the standard distinction is widely taught and understood.

Examples: Zij is het snelst van de klas. Dit is de snelste route. Wie kan het snelst zwemmen? De auto gaat het snelst.

Snelst is a common term in Dutch, used to indicate the utmost speed or efficiency in a comparison.