Fåtaliga

Fåtaliga is a Swedish adjective meaning “few in number” or “a small number of.” It is used to describe a countable plural noun and conveys that there are not many of something, but more than zero. The word tends to appear in formal, factual, or written Swedish, such as in reports, analyses, or academic writing.

In typical usage, fåtaliga modifies a plural noun, for example fåtaliga fall (a small number of cases), fåtaliga uppgifter (a small number of data points). It is less common as a standalone predicator and is usually placed before the noun it describes. The expression signals a conservative estimate or an impression rather than an exact tally, and it can soften statements about quantity compared with precise counts. Fåtaliga is often contrasted with many or numerous terms such as många, flertalet, or en del, to indicate the relative size of a group.

A closely related noun form is fåtal, meaning “a small number” or “a handful.” For example, ett fåtal personer means “a handful of people.” The adjective fåtalig (and its plural form fåtaliga) derives from fåtal, combining with the -iga suffix to form a descriptive word.

Nuance and synonyms: fåtaliga implies not just smallness but a definite, albeit uncertain, minority. Alternatives include några (a few), en liten mängd (a small amount), or ett fåtal omständigheter (a handful of circumstances), depending on formality and precision. The term is neutral in tone and primarily descriptive.