Förgängliga

Förgängliga is a Swedish adjective meaning that something is perishable, transient, or liable to pass away. It is used to describe living beings, objects, or phenomena whose existence or state is not permanent. In philosophy, literature and everyday language, förgängliga highlights the temporary nature of life, matter and experience, and it often appears in contrasts with evig (eternal) or varaktig (lasting).

Etymology and form: the word is formed from the prefix för- plus gånglig, with roots in older Swedish and Proto-Germanic elements related to passage or going. The corresponding noun is förgängelse, referring to perishability or mortality, and related terms include förgängliga ting (perishable things) and förgängligheter (impermanences).

Usage and nuance: as a concept, förgängliga emphasizes the inevitability of decay, change and ending. It is commonly used in poetry, religious or ethical discussion, and everyday speech to frame human life, material goods, or social conditions as temporary. The term often carries a reflective or admonitory tone, inviting attention to the value of the present and the inevitability of loss.

See also: förgängelse, impermanens, evig, varaktig, dödlighet.

Note: the article presents the term as used in Swedish language and literature; specific senses can vary by context.