Vilse

Vilse is a Swedish adverb describing a state of being lost or astray. It denotes a lack of orientation or direction and is commonly used to talk about someone who cannot find their way. The phrase gå vilse (to get lost) and komma vilse (to become lost) are standard forms, for example: Vi gick vilse i skogen (We got lost in the forest).

Vilse can be used both physically and figuratively. Physically, it refers to losing one’s way in a place or terrain. Figuratively, it can express confusion or being misled by information, as in bli vilseledd av falska uppgifter (to be misled by false information). The related participle vilseledd means misled, and is used in contexts describing a person who has been deceived or steered wrong.

In terms of nuance, vilse is often contrasted with förlorad, which more strongly implies a permanent or irreversible loss, and with förvirrad, which emphasizes confusion rather than a loss of direction. For misplacing tangible objects, the verb phrase tappa bort is used instead of vilse.

In Swedish usage, vilse appears in travel writing, navigation guidance, and everyday speech as a neutral term for temporary disorientation. Its semantic scope covers both physical disorientation and metaphorical confusion, making it a versatile word for describing being off track or misdirected. Cognates exist in other Scandinavian languages, reflecting a shared Germanic linguistic heritage.