What does “best” mean in Dutch when it means “quite”?

In Dutch, “best” can work as a degree word meaning “quite” or “fairly.” “Dat is best oud” means “that’s quite old,” not “that’s best old.” English speakers expect “best” to be a superlative, but Dutch already has a separate superlative form — “de beste” (the best) — so the same written word pulls double duty. In everyday speech, “best” before an adjective often signals “pretty” or “fairly,” softening what might otherwise sound like a strong claim.

In this clip, two speakers discuss the Palestinian diplomat Leila Shahid, who died at 76. When one says “Dat is oud” (that’s old), the other replies “Ja, best oud” — yes, quite old. You’ll hear it across everyday Dutch: “dat is best lekker” (that’s pretty tasty), “het gaat best goed” (things are going fairly well), “dat valt best mee” (that’s not too bad). The clue is position: “best” right before an adjective, without a following noun, usually means “quite/fairly.” With a noun and article — “de beste film van het jaar” (the best film of the year) — the superlative meaning returns.