dyrbara

Dyrbar is a Swedish adjective meaning valuable, precious, or dear. It is used for both tangible objects with high monetary value and for things with emotional significance, such as memories, relationships, or time.

Etymology and form: Dyrbar derives from the Old Norse and early Swedish roots related to the word for dear and valuable. In modern Swedish, the word functions as a standard adjective and can appear in different inflected forms depending on number and definiteness. The plural form before a plural noun is typically dyrbara, as in dyrbara minnen (precious memories). The related noun dyrbarhet denotes preciousness or value.

Usage: Dyrbar is common in everyday speech as well as in literary or formal language. It frequently describes heirlooms, gifts, or other objects considered valuable beyond price, but it can also describe intangible concepts such as time, health, or friendship that are valued highly. Its tone ranges from neutral to sentimental, and it may be used in both descriptive and evaluative contexts.

Examples:

- Det är en dyrbar vänskap. (That is a precious friendship.)

- Han gav mig en dyrbar ring. (He gave me a valuable ring.)

- Tiden är dyrbar.

Related terms: värdefull (valuable, valuable in a broader sense), kostsam (costly, expensive), and dyrbarhet (preciousness, value). Dyrbar is the standard term for “precious” in Swedish, with dyrbara used before plural nouns.