ülivõrdes

Ülivõrdes is an Estonian grammatical term referring to the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs. It indicates the highest degree of a quality or characteristic compared to all others in a given context. This is comparable to the "-est" ending in English adjectives like "tallest" or the word "most" used before an adjective, such as "most beautiful."

In Estonian, the superlative degree is typically formed by adding the suffix -im or -imad to the adjective or adverb stem. For example, the adjective "kõrge" (high) becomes "kõrgeim" (highest). Similarly, the adverb "kiiresti" (quickly) becomes "kiiremini" (more quickly) in the comparative and "kiireimini" (most quickly) in the superlative. Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular superlative forms.

The superlative is used to make comparisons that establish one item or instance as superior to all others. For instance, "See on kõrgeim mägi Eestis" translates to "This is the highest mountain in Estonia." The context is crucial for understanding the scope of the comparison. Ülivõrdes is a fundamental aspect of Estonian grammar, enabling nuanced expression of degrees of comparison.