The word "tardiest" is spelled with the letters T-A-R-D-I-E-S-T. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is transcribed as /ˈtɑrdiɪst/. The first syllable "tar" is pronounced with a short "a" sound and the "r" is pronounced. The second syllable "di" is pronounced with a short "i" sound and the "d" is pronounced. The third syllable "est" is pronounced with a long "e" sound and the "st" is pronounced as a voiceless consonant cluster. "Tardiest" is the superlative form of the adjective "tardy," meaning "late or delayed."
The word tardiest is derived from the root word tardy. The etymology of tardy can be traced back to the Old French word tardif, meaning slow or late. It ultimately comes from the Latin word tardus, which also means slow or delayed.