zachtste

Zachtste is the superlative form of the Dutch adjective zacht, meaning soft. It denotes the highest degree of softness within a group of items or a set.

Formation and usage: Dutch typically forms the superlative by adding the suffix -ste to the stem of an adjective. For one-syllable adjectives like zacht, the form is zachtste. The definite article is used when signaling the specific item in a set, resulting in phrases such as de zachtste or het zachtste, depending on the gender and number of the noun. In plural form, the adjective remains zachtste, e.g., de zachtste kussens, while preserving agreement with the noun.

Applications: Zachtste is used to compare three or more objects directly, or to single out the utmost degree of softness among alternatives. It can also appear in noun phrases describing a quality, such as “het zachtste materiaal” or “de zachtste stof,” as well as in figurative expressions.

Examples:

- Dit kussen is het zachtste van de set.

- Zij koos het zachtste materiaal voor de baby.

- In deze antwoord is dit de zachtste optie.

Notes: While the -ste form is standard for the adjective zacht, some contexts (especially with longer adjectives) may employ the periphrastic vorm met meest zacht, though for zacht the concise -ste form is typical in modern usage.

See also: zacht, zachter, grootste en kleinste (comparatives and superlatives in Dutch).