våtest

Våtest is a linguistic term referring to a potential or dialectal superlative form of the adjective våt, meaning wet, in some North Germanic languages such as Norwegian and Swedish. It is not a standard form in modern Norwegian Bokmål or Nynorsk, nor in Swedish, and is rarely used outside dialectal or historical contexts. In linguistic discussions, våtest is used to describe a pattern in which the suffix -est is added to the stem to express “the wettest” in older or regional varieties.

Etymology and form: The base adjective våt combines with a superlative suffix to yield våtest in varieties that preserve older Germanic morphology. The form illustrates how some dialects historically employed a direct superlative ending, similar to other Germanic languages, rather than periphrastic constructions.

Attestation and usage: Våtest is not commonly cited in contemporary dictionaries and standard grammars. It appears sporadically in dialect literature, philological notes, or discussions of historical Norwegian or Swedish grammar. When encountered, it is typically contrasted with more common, modern ways of expressing the highest degree of wetness—such as periphrastic expressions (more wet) or dialect-specific superlatives—rather than being used in everyday speech.

See also: våt, våtere.