starkast

Starkast is a Swedish grammatical term that refers to the superlative degree of the adjective stark, meaning “the strongest.” It denotes the highest degree of strength within a group.

The form is used to compare among members of a set and to express ultimate degree of strength. For example, in everyday Swedish one might hear or read phrases like someone being starkast in a team or situation, meaning they are the strongest among the group.

Notes on usage and form: the bare superlative often appears in indefinite, attributive contexts and in informal speech. In definite constructions, standard forms with the definite article are common, such as den starkaste (the strongest, singular) or de starkaste (the strongest, plural). The suffix -ast is the typical marker of the superlative for many short adjectives in Swedish, though actual usage can vary with register and region.

Etymology and related forms: starkast is derived from the adjective stark plus the superlative suffix -ast. Cross-linguistically, Germanic languages have analogous forms for “the strongest,” such as Danish stærkeste and Norwegian sterkest, reflecting a common pattern of forming the highest degree of adjectives in the family.

See also: stark (adjective); Swedish grammar; comparative and superlative forms in Scandinavian languages.