Sämre

Sämre is a Swedish adjective that functions as the comparative form of dålig, meaning worse or inferior. It is used to compare quality, condition, or value, indicating that something is less good than something else. In standard Swedish, sämre is employed in both attributive and predicative positions and corresponds to the English word “worse.”

Grammar and usage: The base adjective dålig yields the comparative sämre and the superlative sämst. In the comparative, sämre does not change for gender or number: en sämre bil, två sämre bilar, ett sämre väder. The phrase det är sämre än tidigare is also common. The superlative is formed with sämst, for example Den här bilen är den sämsta jag har kört.

Common contexts and nuance: Sämre describes a decline in quality, condition, or performance, and can refer to tangible objects or abstract situations. It is often contrasted with bättre (better) and used in expressions such as sämre än vanligt or allt blir sämre. In some contexts, värre is used to convey increasing severity or intensity, though sämre remains the standard form for “worse” in quality comparisons.

Related forms and usage notes: Sämre is a standard part of Swedish grammar and appears in both spoken and written language in Sweden and in Finland-Swedish communities. The related superlative sämst means “the worst.” The term is etymologically derived from the base dålig with the Swedish comparative suffix -re; the superlative uses -st.