Ovälkomna

Ovälkomna is a Swedish adjective meaning unwelcome. It is used to describe people, events, or things that are not desired or greeted with approval. The word can modify nouns, as in ovälkomna gäster, or appear predicatively after a linking verb, as in gästerna var ovälkomna.

Etymology and form: Oväkomna is formed by adding a negating prefix o- to välkommen (welcome). Like other Swedish adjectives, it inflects for number and definiteness, with the plural form commonly used before plural nouns (ovälkomna) and the singular form (ovälkommen) used before a singular noun or in predicative constructions.

Usage and nuance: The term conveys a clear negative assessment and is typically used in formal or descriptive writing. It can describe reception, attitudes, or circumstances that are not desired, ranging from socially awkward situations to unfavorable news. Its tone is more formal than everyday alternatives and can emphasize a lack of invitation or acceptance.

Examples: Oväkomna gäster arrived at the door; the phrase ovälkomna nyheter appeared in headlines before the announcement. In a sentence, one might say: Gästerna var ovälkomna, according to the host, or These are ovälkomna changes that no one asked for.

See also: Välkommen, which means welcome, and prefixed forms that express negation in Swedish, such as ovänlig (unfriendly) and oväntad (unexpected in a negative sense).