The Ultimate Superlative: "aller-"
To emphasize a superlative in German—like "the very best" or "the fastest of all"—attach the prefix aller- to the superlative form of an adjective or adverb.
Use it with am for adverbs or predicate adjectives:
| Do you know which breed is the very most expensive? | Weißt du, welche Rasse am allerteuersten ist? |
Or use it with a definite article (der/die/das) when the superlative stands on its own:
| This breed is the very oldest. | Diese Rasse ist die allerälteste. |
Declining the Intensified Superlative
When an aller- superlative comes directly before a noun, it takes standard adjective endings. The prefix doesn't change how the word declines.
| That is the very most beautiful trophy of the exhibition. | Das ist der allerschönste Pokal der Ausstellung. |
It works seamlessly across all cases, just like a regular adjective:
| The champion gets the very largest trophy. | Der Champion bekommt den allergrößten Pokal. |
| The dog with the very longest ribbon wins. | Der Hund mit der allerlängsten Schleife gewinnt. |
"Sollen" for Hearsay
The modal verb sollen (usually "should") can also express hearsay. In this context, it translates to "is said to" or "is supposed to."
| The breeder is said to be the very best. | Der Züchter soll der allerbeste sein. |
| Purebred dogs are said to be the very most beautiful. | Reinrassige Hunde sollen am allerschönsten sein. |
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