kortare

Kortare is the Swedish comparative form of the adjective kort, meaning “short.” It is used to indicate that something has less length, duration, or extent than another thing. The form appears in everyday speech, technical descriptions, and writing to contrast two or more items.

In Swedish grammar, the comparative form is created by adding the suffix -are to the stem, yielding kortare. The corresponding superlative is kortast. Kortare is used for all genders and numbers when making a comparison and is typically preceded by än, as in kortare än. It can appear before the noun in attributive position, for example en kortare period, and after a linking verb in predicative position, for example perioden blev kortare.

Etymology: kortare is built from the root kort meaning “short” plus the comparative suffix -are. It belongs to the broader Germanic pattern for forming comparatives and is closely related to similar forms in other Scandinavian languages.

Related terms: kort (short), längre (longer), kortast (shortest). The agent noun förkortare (shortener or abbreviator) is formed with the suffix -are from förkorta, and is related in meaning to performing a shortening action. For longer or shorter distinctions, speakers often use phrases such as kortare än, eller längre än, to express comparisons of length or duration.