Bekymrad

Bekymrad is an adjective in Swedish that describes a person who feels worried, concerned, or troubled. The term can refer to a general emotional state or to specific concerns about an issue, situation, or future outcome. It is commonly used about how someone appears or feels, as well as about the seriousness of a problem that causes concern.

Etymology and form: Bekymrad is derived from the verb bekymra, meaning to worry. The noun bekymmer means worry or trouble, and bekymrad is the past participle form used as an adjective. The related verb bekymra sig means to worry oneself, and the noun form bekymmer can appear in phrases like “bekymmer över något” or “bekymmer sig för någonting.”

Usage: Bekymrad is used predicatively, as in “Hon såg bekymrad ut” (She looked worried). It can also appear in phrases such as “bekymrad över framtiden” (concerned about the future) or with the reflexive verb “bekymra sig”: “Han bekymrar sig för sin väns hälsa.” In plural or with plural nouns, the adjective can take declined forms like bekymrade (e.g., “bekymrade föräldrar”).

Nuance and related terms: Bekymrad conveys concern tied to specific worries or potential problems, often with a sense of responsibility. It is closely related to oroad (worried, anxious) and ängslig (anxious), but bekymrad tends to emphasize concrete concerns rather than generalized anxiety. The term is standard in formal and colloquial Swedish.