kyligt

Kyligt is a Swedish adjective or adverb used to describe a sense of coolness or chilly conditions. It is the neuter singular form of the adjective kylig, and it is commonly employed to characterize weather, air, water, or a mood that feels cool and moderately cold. In everyday use, phrases such as det är kyligt ute or kyligt väder are typical, and kyligt can also modify non-weather nouns when describing a cool or detached atmosphere, as in ett kyligt bemötande.

Etymology and usage notes: kyligt derives from the stem kyl-, related to kyla, meaning to cool. The form kyligt is used for neuter nouns and in predicative position: Det känns kyligt, Det är kyligt. It contrasts with kallt, which more directly signals cold to the touch or temperature, and with kylig, which often emphasizes a persistent or slightly icy quality. The nuance of kyligt often suggests a refreshing or brisk coolness rather than extreme cold, though it can also convey discomfort if the temperature is sufficiently low.

Common contexts and synonyms: kyligt is frequent in meteorological descriptions (kyligt väder, kyliga vindar), in descriptions of liquids or environments (kyligt vatten), and in metaphorical uses (ett kyligt bemötande). Related terms include kylig (adjective describing a chilly or icy quality) and kylan (the cold) as well as kallt (cold) for stronger coldness. The choice between kyligt, kallt, and kylig depends on the degree and nuance of temperature or standoffish atmosphere being conveyed.

See also: kylig, kyla, kallt.