Definition
The superlative form of pretty, meaning the most beautiful, attractive, or visually pleasing.
Etymology
From Middle English 'pretty' originally meaning cunning or skillful, from Old English 'prættig.' Over time it shifted to mean pleasing to the eye. The '-est' suffix makes it the superlative form.
Kelly Says
Pretty originally meant 'clever' or 'crafty'—it wasn't about looks at all! It shows how word meanings can completely flip over centuries, transforming from describing intelligence to describing appearance.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
በጣም ቆንጆ
ba-tam qon-jo
BNবাংলা
সবচেয়ে সুন্দর
so-bo-che-ye sun-dor
CACatalà
més bonica
mes bo-ni-ca
CSČeština
nejkrásnější
nej-kras-na-shee
DADansk
smukkeste
smuk-kes-te
DEDeutsch
schönstes
shon-stes
ELΕλληνικά
η ωραιότερη
i o-ra-i-o-te-ri
ESEspañol
más bonita
mas bo-ni-ta
FAفارسی
زیباترین
zi-ba-tar-in
FISuomi
kauneimman
kau-ne-im-man
FRFrançais
la plus belle
la pluh bel
GUGU
સૌથી સુંદર
sau-thi sun-dar
HEעברית
היפה ביותר
ha-ya-fa-ve-dor
HIहिन्दी
सबसे सुंदर
sab-se su-n-der
HUMagyar
legszebb
leg-szebb
IDBahasa Indonesia
tercantik
ter-can-tik
ITItaliano
più bella
pee-oo bel-la
JA日本語
一番美しい
ichi-ban u-tsu-ku-shii
KMKM
ល្អ បំផុត
l-a-ng-bom-put
KO한국어
가장 아름다운
ga-jang a-reum-da-un
MRMR
सर्वोत्तम
sar-vo-tam
MSBahasa Melayu
tercantik
ter-can-tik
MYမြန်မာ
အလှဆုံး
a-l-h-sa-su-nge
NLNederlands
mooist
moo-ist
NONorsk
finneste
fin-nes-te
PAPA
ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਸੁੰਦਰ
sabh ton sun-dar
PLPolski
najpiękniejsza
na-j-p-ie-k-n-ie-j-sha
PTPortuguês
mais bonita
mais bo-ni-ta
RORomână
cea mai frumoasă
che ma frum-o-sa
RUРусский
самая красивая
samaya kra-si-va-ya
SVSvenska
snyggaste
sh-nyg-gast-e
SWKiswahili
mzuri zaidi
m-zu-ri za-i-ri
TAதமிழ்
அழகான
a-zha-ga-an
TEతెలుగు
అందమైన
an-da-ma-in
THไทย
สวยที่สุด
suay-ti-sut
TLTL
pinakamaganda
pi-na-ka-ma-gan-da
TRTürkçe
en güzel
en ge-ne-l
UKУкраїнська
найгарніша
na-i-gar-ni-sha
VITiếng Việt
đẹp nhất
dep-nhat
ZUZU
ngcwele kakhulu
ng-cwe-le ka-khu-lu
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Physical beauty historically the primary metric of female value; 'prettiest' reduces women to appearance while similar male superlatives (strongest, smartest) measure capability.
Inclusive Usage
Avoid using appearance-only superlatives for women in professional/achievement contexts. Use for genuine aesthetic comparison when relevant.
Inclusive Alternatives
["most beautiful","most striking","most visually distinctive"]
Empowerment Note
Women's contributions are diminished when appearance ranks as primary descriptor; lead with skill, accomplishment, and agency.