Intentionellt

Intentionellt is a Swedish adverb meaning deliberately or on purpose. It describes an action that is performed with a specific intention, as opposed to something done by accident.

Etymology and form: The adverb is derived from the noun intention, via the related adjective intentionell, with the adverbial ending -t. The sense ultimately traces to Latin intentio, through French influence on Swedish vocabulary. In use, intentionellt functions as the manner adverb that marks purposeful conduct.

Usage and nuance: In everyday Swedish, intentionellt signals that the actor acted with intention. Examples: Hon gjorde det intentionellt (She did it intentionally). Företaget ändrade policyn intentionellt (The company changed the policy intentionally). It is common to contrast with av misstag or oavsiktligt, which denote actions done by mistake or unintentionally. In legal or analytical contexts, uppsåt (intent) is a related concept, and intentionellt may emphasize the manner of the action rather than the broader mental state.

See also: uppsåt, avsikt, medvetet, oavsiktligt.