Flyktig

Flyktig is a Swedish adjective meaning lasting only a short time; fleeting or transitory. It is used to describe impressions, moments, memories, or appearances that pass quickly and are not permanent. Common phrases include en flyktig blick (a fleeting glance) and en flyktig känsla (a transitory feeling). The term can also describe phenomena that are temporary or provisional rather than enduring.

Etymology and related forms: Flyktig derives from flykt, meaning flight or escape, with the adjectival suffix -ig. The sense is metaphorical, indicating something that passes by or escapes quickly. The word is related to other Germanic terms with similar meanings and is contrasted with more permanent or stable descriptors such as tillfällig or varaktig in Swedish.

Usage and nuance: Flyktig is widespread in literature, journalism, and everyday speech. It often conveys a sense of impermanence or evanescence, sometimes with a poetic or reflective nuance. It is commonly used with nouns denoting time, perception, or mood.

Inflection: The positive form is flyktig. Comparative forms include flyktigare or mer flyktig, and superlatives include flyktigast or mest flyktig, depending on style. The adverbial form exists as flyktigt, used to describe actions done briefly or momentarily.

See also: tillfällig (occasional), förgänglig (perishable or transient), ephemeral (in English). Note that flyktig is distinct from flykting (refugee) or flyktingskap, which relate to flight or escape in a different sense.