barnslig

Barnslig is a Swedish adjective meaning childish or puerile, used to describe behavior, opinions, or attitudes that are immature, naive, or lacking in seriousness. It can apply to people, jokes, or ideas that reveal a childlike, not fully developed approach rather than mature judgment.

Etymology and sense: The term derives from barn (child) plus the suffix -slig, which forms adjectives indicating likeness or tendency. The sense is "like a child" and it has been part of Swedish since the early modern period. The word typically carries a critical or disapproving nuance, signaling that something is inappropriate for grown, adult standards.

Usage and nuance: In everyday language, barnslig is a pejorative descriptor for actions or statements that appear immature or simplistic. It can refer to personal conduct, comments, or fantasies. The adverb form is barnsligt, as in Det var barnsligt av honom att göra så. In writing, the term can appear in journalism, essays, or literature, though it is still somewhat informal and not always suitable for highly formal discourse. Common collocations include barnsligt beteende, barnsliga åsikter, and barnsliga skämt.

See also and related terms: Related descriptors include omoget (immature) and naivt (naive). The noun form is barnslighet. There are cognates in Norwegian and Danish with the same form and meaning.