Sistnämnda

Sistnämnda is a Swedish adjective meaning “the last-mentioned” or “the latter.” It is used to refer to the item, person, or case that was named most recently in a discourse, list, or sequence. The term is common in formal, legal, administrative, and journalistic writing, where it helps avoid repeating a name or noun.

Formation and grammar: Sistnämnda is an inflected form that agrees with the noun it modifies. Typical constructions include den sistnämnda personen (the last-mentioned person), det sistnämnda fallet (the last-mentioned case), or de sistnämnda fallen (the last-mentioned cases). It is often paired with a definite article, but it can also stand in a predicative position in more complex sentences.

Usage notes: Sistnämnda signals that there were earlier mentioned items and that the reference now concerns the final one in the sequence. It is frequently encountered in official reports, legal documents, parliamentary minutes, and analytical texts. In everyday speech, speakers may opt for more explicit references rather than using the term, especially if the context does not require compact phrasing.

Related forms: The natural counterpart is förstnämnda, meaning “the first-mentioned.” Both forms are used to index items in a list or discussion. The choice between full phrases (e.g., den sistnämnda personen) and more compact structures depends on register and clarity.

See also: förstnämnda; listing and reference in formal Swedish; pronoun references in legal and administrative language.