Breakdown of Barndomen är den allra mest betydelsefulla perioden.
vara
to be
den
the (with en-words)
mest
most
perioden
the period
Questions & Answers about Barndomen är den allra mest betydelsefulla perioden.
How does allra work with mest betydelsefulla in this sentence?
allra is an adverb used to intensify superlatives, translating to "the very" or "of all". Because betydelsefull is a long adjective, its superlative is formed with mest (most) rather than an ending. Putting it together, allra mest betydelsefulla means "the very most significant".
Why is it Barndomen (the childhood) when the English translation is just "Childhood"?
In Swedish, abstract nouns or concepts discussed in a broad, general sense like childhood, life, or nature usually take the definite form. That is why we say Barndomen instead of just Barndom.
Why does the adjective betydelsefulla end in -a here?
Because it is part of a definite phrase. When an adjective describes a specific, definite noun, it gets the definite -a ending. This rule applies even when the adjective is part of a superlative phrase using mest.
Why do we need den before the adjective if perioden is already in the definite form?
This is a great example of the Swedish double definite rule. When a definite noun like perioden (the period) is described by an adjective, you must also use the front definite article, which in this case is den.