Efterliknar

Efterliknar is a Swedish verb meaning to imitate or to mimic, especially in terms of behavior, style, or appearance. The infinitive is efterlikna, and efterliknar is the third-person singular present tense. The verb follows regular conjugation patterns for -a verbs: preterite efterliknade, past participle efterliknat.

Use of efterliknar is transitive, typically taking a direct object or a clause describing what is being imitated. Examples: Han efterliknar sin favoritkaraktär i tal och gester. Filmen efterliknar verkligheten noggrant. The term can describe both playful imitation and more critical or mocking imitation, depending on context.

In performance contexts, etterlikning is common and a related noun is en efterliknare, meaning a person who imitates someone else, such as a tribute artist or impersonator. Synonyms include imiterar and kopierar, with nyanserna att efterlikna ofta betonar orimlig eller karaktärsliknande reproduktion, medan imiterar kan vara mer generell imitation.

Etymology: efterliknar derives from prefixet efter- meaning “after” or “in imitation of” plus lika meaning “like.” This reflects the sense of making something resemble another thing or person.

Overall, efterliknar is a standard Swedish verb used across everyday language, media, and formal writing to describe the act of imitation, whether exact, stylized, or humorous.