sämst

Sämst is a Swedish adjective meaning "the worst" or "extremely poor." It is the superlative form of dålig (bad/poor) and is used to express the lowest degree of quality within a group or situation. The comparative form is sämre, as in den här filmen är sämre än den andra. When modifying a noun, the attributive form becomes sämsta, as in den sämsta filmen.

Usage and register: Sämst is common in contemporary Swedish and is widely used in spoken language and online. It is informal and colloquial, and while it can be used playfully or in self-deprecating humor, it can come across as rude in formal writing or polite conversation. It is often used without further intensification, as in Det här spelet är sämst, or with på to specify a skill or performance: sämst på att laga mat. In hyperbolic contexts it can function as an evaluative punch line: Det här är sämst någonsin.

Examples: Det här spelet är sämst. Hon är sämst på att laga mat. Den sämsta idén någonsin.

Related terms: Bäst means "best," while sämre is the comparative form of dålig. The noun-modifying form den sämsta is used when the word attributes a specific noun, for example den sämsta filmen. The term remains primarily colloquial and is less suited for formal contexts.