svårast

Svårast is a Swedish adjective form meaning “the most difficult.” It is the superlative degree of the adjective svår, which means difficult or hard. The word is used to compare three or more items or to single out the single most challenging item within a defined set.

Formation and usage: The superlative is formed with the suffix -ast and is used when the set being compared is clearly defined or when the noun is definite. For example, den svåraste uppgiften (the most difficult task) or de svåraste uppgifterna (the most difficult tasks). In many cases the comparative form svårare is used for simple two-way comparisons, while svårast is used for three or more items or when the definite form is required in a sentence. The word can also function in predicative constructions, as in Det här är den svåraste delen (This is the most difficult part), and in clauses such as Det var svårast att förstå instruktionerna (It was the hardest to understand the instructions).

Examples:

- Den här uppgiften är den svåraste uppgiften i kursen. (This task is the most difficult in the course.)

- Av alla uppgifter är den här den svåraste. (Of all the tasks, this one is the hardest.)

- Det var svårast att förstå instruktionerna. (It was the hardest to understand the instructions.)

Etymology: Svårast derives from the Swedish adjective svår (difficult) with the standard superlative suffix -ast. The word is cognate with Danish svær and Norwegiansvær, reflecting common Germanic roots.