alldeles

Alldeles is a Swedish adverb that functions as an intensifier meaning completely, entirely, absolutely, or quite. It modifies adjectives, and by extension other adverbs or predicates, and is used in both speech and writing to convey strong emphasis. In usage, it can stand in for or reinforce other intensifiers such as helt or fullständigt, depending on the nuance the speaker wishes to express.

Typical constructions include before adjectives or participles:

- Det var alldeles tyst i rummet. (The room was completely quiet.)

- Det är alldeles för dyrt. (It is far too expensive.)

- Hon såg alldeles överraskad ut. (She looked absolutely surprised.)

- Det var alldeles uppenbart att projektet hade misslyckats. (It was completely evident that the project had failed.)

Alldeles is widely used across registers; it is common in everyday conversation as well as in formal writing, and it remains a neutral to strongly emphatic option for emphasizing a description or assessment.

Etymology and related forms: the word appears to be a compound built from all, meaning “whole” or “all,” with an intensifying suffix that forms an adverb. It has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, notably Norwegian alldeles and Danish alldeles, where similar usage and meaning are found.

Pronunciation: approximately [ˈalː.dɛː.lɛs], with the emphasis typically on the first syllable in standard Swedish.

See also: related intensifiers such as helt, helt och hållet, or fullständigt are often used as alternatives depending on tone and formality.