German

Conjunction

desto

1. the (forming the parallel comparative with je)

   je mehr, desto besser — “the more the better”

References

• “desto” in The Ordnett Dictionary (etymology)

Italian

Adjective

desto m ‎(feminine singular desta, masculine plural desti, feminine plural deste)

1. awake

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From German desto (see German section).

Adverb

desto (also functioning as a conjunction)

1. (used before a comparative to express comparison) all the better, all the more

   Vel, han røyker jo mye, men drikker desto mer.

   Well, he does smoke much, but drinks all the more.

2. the more (forming the parallel comparative with jo, compare German section)

   Jo mer jeg tenker over det, desto merkeligere virker det.

   The more I think about it, the stranger it seems.

Derived terms

• desto bedre
• desto mer
• ikke desto mindre

References

• “desto” in The Ordnett Dictionary
• “desto” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From German desto (see German section).

Adverb

desto (also functioning as a conjunction)

1. (used before a comparative to express comparison) all the better, all the more

   Vel, han røykjer jo mykje, men drikk desto meir.

   Well, he does smoke much, but drinks all the more.

2. the more (forming the parallel comparative with jo, compare German section)

   Jo meir eg tenkjer over det, desto merkeligare verkar det.

   The more I think about it, the stranger it seems.

Derived terms

• desto betre
• desto meir
• ikkje desto mindre

References

• “desto” in The Ordnett Dictionary
• “desto” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Swedish

Pronunciation

Adverb

desto

1. same as German desto, similar to the in some expressions

   ju mer, desto bättre

   the more, the better

   vi äter inte mycket, men dricker desto mer

   we don't eat much, but drink all the more