Skadliga

Skadliga is a Swedish adjective meaning harmful or detrimental, describing something that causes damage or adverse effects. The base form is skadlig; the form skadliga is used when the noun it modifies is plural or common gender in plural, as in skadliga kemikalier or skadliga effekter. In attributive position before a noun, skadligt or skadliga can be used depending on number and gender; in predicative use after a linking verb, the adverbial form skadligt is common, as in Det är skadligt att röka eller Röken är skadlig för hälsan.

Skadliga is frequently used in health, safety, and environmental contexts. It can describe substances, behaviors, or conditions that have negative consequences for health or well-being, such as skadliga ämnen (harmful substances), skadliga följder (harmful outcomes), or skadliga vanor (harmful habits). The term is often contrasted with farlig, which emphasizes immediate danger or threat, whereas skadlig focuses more on harmful effects over time or generally.

Etymology and related forms: skadliga derives from the noun skada (damage, harm) with the suffix -lig, forming an adjective meaning having the quality of causing harm. Related words include skadlig, skadligt, and synonyms such as farlig. In Norwegian and Danish, cognate forms like skadelig exist with similar meaning. Usage notes: in scientific or regulatory language, precise distinctions may be drawn between skadlig (harmful in effect) and altra terms like giftigt (toxic) or farlig (dangerous), depending on context and emphasis.