ihållande

Ihållande is a Swedish adjective meaning lasting for a long time or continuing without interruption. It describes something that persists or remains in effect over an extended period, rather than something that is short-lived or intermittent. The term is commonly used about weather, medical symptoms, and situations or trends that show ongoing persistence.

Examples of usage include et tailed phrases such as ett ihållande regn (a prolonged rain), ihållande smärta (persistent pain), or ett ihållande problem (an enduring problem). In predicative form, one can say regnet var ihållande (the rain was persistent). The nuance of ihållande emphasizes continuity and durability rather than mere duration.

Nuance and related terms: Ihållande is often contrasted with tillfälligt (temporary) or episodiskt/intermittent (sporadic). Sammanhangs-ord som varaktig and beständig are closely related; varaktig focuses on long duration, while ihållande stresses ongoing continuity. The adjective is versatile and appears in everyday language as well as in scientific, medical, meteorological, and sociological contexts.

Etymology and form: Ihållande is formed as an attributive and predicative adjective from the stem hålla/hålla, with the prefix i- creating a sense of ongoingness. It is typically used to modify nouns (ett ihållande regn, ihållande problem) and does not usually function as a standalone noun.

See also: uthållig (enduring), varaktig (lasting), kontinuerlig (continuous).