Superlative Adjectives
The superlative is the highest degree of comparison. It expresses 'the most' or 'the -est' (the biggest, the best, the most beautiful).
In German, superlative adjectives can be used attributively (before nouns) or predicatively (after verbs like 'sein').
This lesson covers how to form superlative adjectives and when to use 'am -sten' vs 'der/die/das -ste'.
Explanation
Most adjectives form the superlative by adding '-sten' to the base form: groß → am größten (the biggest), schnell → am schnellsten (the fastest).
When used attributively (before nouns), superlative adjectives use '-ste' endings and follow normal adjective declension: 'der größte Tisch' (the biggest table).
When used predicatively (after verbs), use 'am -sten': 'Dieser Tisch ist am größten' (This table is the biggest).
Adjectives ending in '-d', '-t', '-s', '-ß', '-x', '-z' add '-esten' instead of '-sten': 'süß → am süßesten' (the sweetest).
Superlative Formation
| Base Form | Superlative (am -sten) | Attributive (der/die/das -ste) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| groß | am größten | der größte | am größten / der größte Tisch |
| schnell | am schnellsten | der schnellste | am schnellsten / das schnellste Auto |
| schön | am schönsten | die schönste | am schönsten / die schönste Frau |
| gut | am besten | der beste | am besten / der beste Freund |
| viel | am meisten | die meisten | am meisten / die meisten Leute |
Irregular Superlatives
Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms that don't follow the standard pattern.
| Base Form | Superlative | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| gut | am besten | am besten | the best |
| viel | am meisten | am meisten | the most |
| gern | am liebsten | am liebsten | most gladly/preferably |
| hoch | am höchsten | der höchste | the highest |
| nah | am nächsten | der nächste | the nearest/next |
Examples
Das ist der größte Tisch.
That is the biggest table.
Dieser Tisch ist am größten.
This table is the biggest.
Sie ist die schönste Frau.
She is the most beautiful woman.
Er läuft am schnellsten.
He runs the fastest.
Das ist das beste Buch.
That is the best book.
Ich mag Pizza am liebsten.
I like pizza most/preferably.
Common Mistakes
am großsten
am größten
Superlative of 'groß' is 'am größten' (with umlaut), not 'am großsten'.
der großte
der größte
Attributive superlative needs '-ste' ending and umlaut: 'der größte', not 'der großte'.
am gutsten
am besten
'Gut' has irregular superlative 'am besten', not 'am gutsten'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.