Tillfällig

Tillfällig is a Swedish adjective meaning temporary, provisional, or incidental. It describes things that are not intended to be permanent, or that occur only on occasion. In broader use it can also refer to events or conditions that arise by chance, though the primary sense in everyday language is non-permanent.

Usage often centers on duration, arrangements, or states that are expected to change or end. Common compounds include tillfällig anställning (temporary employment), tillfälligt boende (temporary housing), and tillfälliga lösningar (temporary solutions). The related adverb tillfälligt means “temporarily.” In some contexts tillfällig can convey an incidental or accidental character, similar to “by chance,” especially when paired with nouns like händelse (event) or omständighet (circumstance).

Etymology stems from the noun tillfälle, meaning occasion or chance, with the productive suffix -lig to form an adjective. The word is closely linked to tillfällighet, which denotes an occurrence, coincidence, or chance event. The distinction between tillfällig and tillfällighet often hinges on whether one emphasizes the property (lasting for a short time) or the event of happening by chance.

Synonyms and related terms include provisorisk (provisional) and tillfällig in many contexts, while antonyms include varaktig (lasting), varaktom (long-lasting), and permanent. Usage notes: tillfällig is typically used when a condition is understood to be temporary or subject to change, whereas provisorisk stresses suitability for a short-term solution, and tillfällighetsbetonade phrases highlight randomness or chance.

See also: tillfällighet, tillfälle, tillfälligt.