aller-

Danish

Prefix

aller-

1. Intensifying prefix for superlatives: very; of them all

   Det er det allersørgeligste, jeg nogensinde har hørt.

   That is the very saddest thing I have ever heard.

Usage notes

The prefix is sometimes reduplicated, escalating the intensification.

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch aller-, alder-, the genitive plural of alle (“all”). The prefix thus literally translates to "of all", yielding adjectives such as allerergst (from ergst (“worst”)) which literally translates to "the worst of all".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑ.lər/

• Audio

  (file)

Prefix

aller-

1. Intensifying prefix for superlatives: very; of them all

   Zijn allergrootste verdriet was dat zijn zoon de zaak niet wilde overnemen.

   The greatest of all his sorrows was that his son did not want to take over the business.

Usage notes

The prefix may be reduplicated, particularly in children's speech, escalating the intensification.

German

Etymology

From aller, the genitive form of alle (“all”), from Middle High German al, from Old High German al, from Proto-Germanic *allaz. Compare English all-, English alder-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /alɐ/

• Audio

  (file)

Prefix

aller-

1. Intensifying prefix for superlatives: very; of them all

   ‎aller- + ‎erste (“first”) → ‎allererste (“very first”)

   ‎aller- + ‎größte Stadt (“the biggest city”) → ‎allergrößte Stadt (“the very biggest city / the biggest city of them all”)

   ‎aller- + ‎meist (“most”) → ‎allermeist (“almost all”)

   ‎aller- + ‎herzlichst (“most cordially”) → ‎allerherzlichst (literally “all-most-cordially”)

   • 1988, Cornelia Funke, Igraine Ohnefurcht, page 84:

     Ich will aber mal die allerallerbeste Ritterin werden.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

The prefix is sometimes reduplicated, escalating the intensification.

Derived terms

See also

• allerhand, allerhöchstens
• herzallerliebst