Nyfött

Nyfött is a Swedish term used as an adjective to describe a being that has recently been born. It most commonly refers to a newborn human infant but can also describe young animals. In everyday language, the noun phrase ett nyfött barn is common, and nyfödda is used for plural. The term emphasizes the immediacy after birth, typically covering the earliest days or weeks of life.

Etymology: The word is formed from ny (new) and fött, the supine past participle of födas (to be born). This combination reflects a state of being newly born. It is closely related to nyfödd (newborn) and to the plural nyfödda (newborns).

Usage and context: In medical and developmental contexts, the human neonatal period is defined as the first 28 days after birth. Newborns often display early reflexes such as rooting and sucking and require care focused on warmth, feeding, and health monitoring. The term nyfött emphasizes that the infant is in the earliest stage of life, before growth and development proceed to later infant, toddler, and childhood phases.