långsam

Långsam is a Swedish adjective meaning "slow" or "not fast." It is used to describe the speed of movement, progress, or thought, as well as other processes or phenomena that occur at a slow pace. In everyday language it often carries a neutral or slightly negative nuance, depending on context, but it can also be used descriptively in technical or formal settings.

Etymology and cognates: The word is generally analyzed as a compound formed with lång (long) together with the suffix -sam, which yields adjectives describing a quality. It has close cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch langzaam and German langsam, reflecting shared West Germanic roots.

Grammar and inflection: Swedish adjectives agree with the noun in number and definiteness. Examples include: en långsam bil (a slow car), den långsamma bilen (the slow car), de långsamma bilarna (the slow cars). The adverbial form is långsamt, used to modify verbs (gå långsamt = walk slowly). The related noun meaning "slowness" or "languor" is långsamhet.

Usage notes: Långsam is common in everyday speech when commenting on speed or tempo, but can imply inefficiency or reluctance if applied to people or organizations. In contrast, faster or quicker terms such as snabb are used for positive or neutral emphasis on speed. The word coexists with related terms like långsamt (adverb) and snabbhet (speed) in Swedish lexicon.