tolles

Tolles is the neuter singular inflected form of the German adjective toll, used to describe a neuter noun. It appears with an indefinite article, as in ein tolles Auto, or without an article in neutral phrases such as tol les Wetter. As an attributive adjective, toll belongs to the set of commonly used colloquial intensifiers and is not a noun itself.

Meaning and usage: Toll means “great” or “fantastic.” In everyday speech it conveys positive appraisal and can describe objects, experiences, or situations. Typical phrases include ein tolles Auto (a great car), eine tolle Idee (a great idea), ein tolles Erlebnis (a wonderful experience), and tol les Wetter (nice weather). The form toll is informal; in more formal writing speakers may choose alternatives like ausgezeichnet or wunderbar.

Grammar and declension: Tolles is the neuter singular form used after an indefinite article or without an article when describing a neuter noun in the nominative or accusative case. Examples: ein tolles Auto, das tolle Auto (definite article). Other gender and number forms follow standard German adjective declension: masculine singular nominative ein toller Tag; feminine singular nominative eine tolle Idee; plural tolle Ideen or tolle Autos, depending on case and article.

Etymology and history: Toll is of Germanic origin and has been used since Middle High German. Originally, it carried ideas linking to much or madness, but in modern usage it primarily conveys positive appraisal. The shift in meaning reflects a broader semantic development common to many colloquial adjectives in German.

Notes: Tolles as a standalone term is not a proper noun, and its interpretation relies on the associated noun and article.