lärd

Lärd is a Swedish word that functions as both an adjective and, less commonly in modern usage, as a noun. As an adjective, it means educated, scholarly or possessing extensive knowledge in a subject. As a noun, "lärd" historically referred to a learned person, especially a scholar or cleric.

The word appears in Old Swedish and has cognates in other North Germanic languages. It is related to terms in Danish and Norwegian meaning “learned.” The form reflects older lexical patterns where education and literacy were markers of social status in intellectual and religious circles.

Historically, the term was common in descriptions of universities, monasteries, and learned circles, and it would be used to distinguish those with formal education from laypeople. Phrases such as "den lärda världen" describe the scholarly community and its activities.

In contemporary Swedish, the adjective remains common, for instance "en lärd person" or "lärd i ett ämne." The noun usage is now mostly literary or antiquarian, often found in historical writing or biographical contexts. The term is less used in everyday language, where synonyms such as "forskare," "expert," or "vetenskapsman" are typically preferred.