borta

Borta is a Swedish word that functions as an adverb and a predicative adjective, meaning away, gone, or missing. It is used to indicate that someone or something is not present at the current location or has disappeared. For example, "Hon är borta" can mean that she is gone or missing, and "borta från stan" means away from town. In sentences that describe a state rather than a location, borta often appears with the verb vara: "Han är borta" (he is gone).

Etymology and related forms: Borta is related to the Old Swedish form bort and has cognates in other North Germanic languages, such as Norwegian borte and Danish borte. The word exists in various idiomatic expressions and compounds that convey distance or absence. The related adjective bort och bortom indicates farther or beyond, while the participle form bortsprungna refers to something that has run away or escaped.

Usage and phrases: Borta is commonly used to describe presence or absence in everyday speech, travel, and news. It also appears in common sayings such as "Borta bra men hemma bäst," which translates to "Away is good, but home is best" and expresses a preference for being at home despite the convenience or appeal of being elsewhere. The expression “borta från” marks a separation or distance from a place or situation, as in "borta från verkligheten" (away from reality).

See also: bort, borta från, bortom, bortsprungna.