främst

Främst is a Swedish adverb meaning primarily, mainly, or chiefly. It is used to mark the most important or central aspect in a statement, often indicating the main reason, purpose, or element among several factors. The word can appear at the beginning of a clause for emphasis, as in “Främst vill jag tacka alla som bidragit,” meaning “Primarily I would like to thank everyone who contributed.” It can also occur within a sentence, for example: “Det finns flera skäl, främst ekonomiska,” meaning “There are several reasons, mainly economic.”

Usage and nuance

Främst signals priority rather than a measure of degree. It differs from mest, which expresses the greatest extent of an attribute, and from framför allt, a fixed phrase more explicitly meaning “above all.” In practice, främst is common in formal writing and public discourse, but it also appears in media and speech. The phrase främst och främst (and above all/primarily) can intensify emphasis.

Etymology

The form derives from the adjective främsta, meaning foremost or leading, and has developed into an adverbial use with the -st suffix. The sense remains tied to priority or primacy.

Related terms

Huvudsakligen and framför allt are close synonyms or paraphrases in many contexts, though they carry slightly different emphasis. Främst is best understood as “primarily” or “most importantly.”

See also

Framför allt; huvudsakligen.