bokstavligen

Bokstavligen is a Swedish adverb that translates to "literally" in English. It is used to indicate that something is taken in a strict, exact, or precise sense, without any metaphorical or figurative interpretation. The term originates from the Swedish word "bokstav," which means "letter," and the suffix "-ligen," which is a common suffix in Swedish used to form adverbs. Bokstavligen is often used in contexts where a literal interpretation is intended, such as in legal or technical discussions, or when emphasizing the exactness of a statement. For example, "Jag bokstavligen förstår inte vad du menar" translates to "I literally do not understand what you mean." In this sentence, the speaker is emphasizing that they do not comprehend the meaning of the statement in any way, not just metaphorically.