Sårbara

Sårbara is a Swedish adjective used to describe something or someone that is vulnerable, fragile, or susceptible to harm, influence, or adverse conditions. It can refer to physical vulnerability, such as a person with a medical condition, as well as emotional, social, or structural vulnerability in groups, communities, or systems. The term is commonly employed in health sciences, risk assessments, social policy, ecology, and cybersecurity to indicate sensitivity to negative outcomes or limited capacity to cope with stressors. The related noun sårbarhet denotes the state or degree of vulnerability.

Etymology and form: sårbara derives from the root sår, meaning wound, combined with the suffix -bar, which in Swedish indicates capability or susceptibility. This construction conveys the idea that something can be wounded, harmed, or otherwise affected.

Usage notes: sårbara is used for both animate and inanimate subjects. It is often contrasted with resilience or robustness, as in discussions of who or what is most at risk in a given context. The term can describe individuals (e.g., vulnerable populations), infrastructure, ecosystems, or data systems that are exposed to risk and have limited capacity to respond or recover.

See also: sårbarhet, resilience (resiliens), risk. Examples include statements about vulnerable groups in social policy, vulnerable ecosystems in environmental planning, or vulnerable IT systems in information security. The concept emphasizes exposure to harm and the need for protective measures or support.