Ungefärliga

Ungefärliga is a Swedish adjective used to describe values, quantities, or descriptions that are not exact, i.e., approximate. The form is the plural attributive form and is used with plural nouns. The corresponding singular forms are ungefärlig (en-ord) and ungefärligt (ett-ord). In practice, ungefärliga is used to indicate imprecision rather than precision.

The word appears frequently in statistics, budgeting, planning, and journalism, where figures are estimates or provisional. It signals that the numbers should be interpreted as rough guidance rather than exact values. Common equivalents in Swedish for indicating approximation include adverbs like ungefär, cirka, omkring, and ungefär.

Examples include: De ungefärliga siffrorna uppgick till cirka 1,2 miljoner kronor. Rapporten redovisar ungefärliga kostnader. Such usage helps convey uncertainty without claiming exactitude, which is important in reporting and analysis.

Etymology and form: ungefärliga is derived from the adverb ungefär, meaning approximately, with the suffix -lig that forms adjectives. The term thus literally means “having the quality of being approximate.” It is considered neutral and suitable for both formal and informal contexts, provided the values are indeed not exact.

Notes: Avoid using ungefärliga when precise values are known; in that case, exact or precise terminology should be preferred. The construction is widely understood across Swedish-speaking regions and is a standard part of contemporary written and spoken Swedish.