faktisk

Faktisk is an adjective used in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish to describe something that is real, actual, or factual. In these languages it often corresponds to the English words actual, real, or factual, or to the phrase in fact, depending on the context. The term is common in everyday speech as well as in formal writing, where it helps distinguish what is true or verifiable from what is hypothetical, assumed, or disputed.

Etymology and form: Faktisk derives from the noun fakt or faktum, meaning fact, which in turn comes from the Latin factus meaning made or done. The suffix -isk forms adjectives meaning related to or characterized by the root word. In all three languages, faktisk is a habitual way to qualify statements by indicating their factual status rather than their appearance or speculation.

Usage: The word is versatile: it can modify nouns (faktiska förhållanden — factual conditions), strength the assertion (Det är faktiskt sant — It is actually true), or introduce a contrast to what is not proven (faktisk risiko — actual risk). In Scandinavian usage, faktiska and faktum appear in related expressions, with faktum referring to a fact itself. The term remains neutral and is appropriate in journalism, academia, and everyday conversation.

Related forms and translations: A cognate set includes faktum (fact), verklig and sann in Swedish and Norwegian for real or true, and facts in English. While faktisk is widely used across Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, its exact nuances can vary slightly by language and register.

See also: Fact, Faktum, Verklig, Sann.