idrottande

Idrottande is a Swedish term that refers to the activity of participating in sport or athletic training. It is formed from the noun idrott (sport) with the -ande suffix, which can function as a present participle or verbal noun. In usage, idrottande describes the act of engaging in sports or the people who do so.

The word can function as an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it describes individuals or groups involved in sport, for example, idrottande ungdomar (young people who participate in sports) or idrottande verksamhet (sporting activity). As a noun, the related form idrottandet (the act of participating in sport) can be used in contexts that discuss overall participation or culture around sport.

In Swedish discourse, idrottande is often contrasted with broader concepts like motion (physical activity) or fysisk aktivitet, which emphasize general health and fitness rather than organized sport. Idrott usually implies structured activity, competition, or club participation, whereas motion and fysisk aktivitet can be more general and informal.

Etymology and usage notes: idrottande is part of a broader pattern in Swedish where -ande forms create nouns or adjectives related to an action. While common in written Swedish and policy discussions, everyday speech often favors phrasing such as de som idrottar or idrottsaktiva when describing people.

See also: idrott, idrottare, idrottsförening, motion, fysisk aktivitet.