ensamma

Ensamma is a Swedish adjective meaning lonely, solitary, or isolated. It is used to describe people who lack companionship, places that feel desolate, or situations marked by social separation. In the singular, the basic form is ensam when used with common gender nouns (en ensam man) and ensamt with neuter nouns (ett ensamt hus). The form ensamma is commonly used in plural constructions or in definite phrases referring to multiple subjects, as in de ensamma människorna or ensamma människor.

In everyday use, ensamma appears across literature, journalism, and conversation to convey a sense of isolation or emotional loneliness. The term can carry varying nuance, from neutral description to more sympathetic or critical framing of people or communities experiencing solitude.

In sociological and psychological contexts, loneliness and social isolation are studied as subjective experiences that may not always align with objective measures of physical isolation. The word ensamma figures in public discourse about mental health, aging, urban life, and social policy, where language about isolation helps describe lived experiences and shape responses.

The related noun ensamh et denotes loneliness or solitude as a state, while ensamma can describe the subject of that state. Other related terms include ensamhetsreflektion (reflection on solitude) and ord som beskriver social connection and well-being.

See also: loneliness, solitude, Swedish language.