Fåtal

Fåtal is a Swedish noun meaning a small number or a few. It is used to refer to a relatively limited, unspecified quantity of items or people, without giving an exact count. The term can convey a sense of modest scope, often in formal or written language, where a precise figure is not stated.

Etymology and form: fåtal is formed from få meaning “few” and tal meaning “number.” It functions as a neuter noun and is typically used with the determiner ett, as in ett fåtal, to denote “a small number.” It can also combine with a following noun to specify the group, for example ett fåtal av eleverna or fåtal personer.

Usage and examples: Ett fåtal studenter klarade provet. Fåtal personer deltog i mötet. Ett fåtal av de utsända hade tillräckliga resultat. In these constructions, fåtal signals that the number is small and not precisely enumerated, useful when exact counts are unknown or intentionally omitted.

Nuance and register: Fåtal is more formal and is commonly found in journalism, reports, and academic prose than in everyday speech. It can imply a minority or limited participation without asserting a precise tally. The term can be contrasted with ord som några (some, a few) or flera/många (several/many), depending on the desired precision and tone.

See also: several, few, handful (conceptual equivalents in English).