Viktigt

Viktigt is a Swedish adjective meaning important or significant. It is used to describe people, objects, events, or information that have a notable degree of importance or relevance. The word can also express necessity or urgent relevance in expressions like “Det är viktigt att …” (It is important to …).

Morphology and examples

Swedish adjectives are inflected for gender, number, and definiteness. The base form is viktig (attributive, common gender). In neuter singular indefinites, the form becomes viktigt, as in ett viktigt beslut. Plural indefinites use viktiga: viktiga böcker. In definite constructions, forms change accordingly: den viktiga boken (the important book), det viktiga beslutet (the important decision), de viktiga böckerna (the important books). In predicative position after det är, the neuter form viktigit is used: Det är viktigt (It is important) or Det är viktigt att följa reglerna (It is important to follow the rules).

Usage notes

Viktigt is commonly used for general statements about importance and for recommendations or obligations, often in constructions with att. It can pair with synonyms such as betydelsefullt or väsentligt to convey nuance, and with antonyms like oviktigt for the opposite meaning in some contexts. The word also appears in collocations such as viktigt att tänka på (important to consider) or viktigt med säkerhet (importance of safety).

Etymology and cognates

Viktigt derives from the noun vikt, meaning weight or significance. Related forms exist in other Scandinavian languages, such as dansk og norsk, with cognates like viktig and viktigare. This reflects the historical linkage between weight, importance, and significance in Germanic language development.