tiefsten

Tiefsten is the superlative form of the German adjective tief, meaning deep. It is used to denote the greatest depth in relation to a plural noun and typically appears with a definite article or determiner, for example die tiefsten Seen (the deepest lakes) or den tiefsten Gräben (the deepest trenches).

In addition to its attributive plural use, tiefsten also occurs in the adverbial superlative form am tiefsten, which expresses the greatest degree of depth in a phrase such as am tiefsten Punkt des Tals (the deepest point of the valley). The form is common in scientific, geographic, and descriptive writing as well as in everyday language when comparing several objects by depth.

Declension notes include that tiefsten is the plural superlative form; in singular contexts the corresponding forms are tiefster (masculine), tiefste (feminine or neuter), and am tiefsten for the adverbial superlative in certain constructions. The exact ending depends on number, case, and the presence of articles or determiners.

Etymologically, tief is a long-established Germanic adjective meaning “deep,” and its comparative and superlative forms, including tiefsten, have been part of standard German for centuries. The term is widely understood in both general and technical contexts and is primarily used to describe depth rather than width or height.