mærkværdigt

märkvärdigt is a Swedish adverb derived from the adjective märkvärdig, meaning remarkable, notable, or unusual. It is used to express a high degree of quality or surprise when modifying adjectives or verbs. Examples: Det var märkvärdigt vackert i solnedgången. Det gick märkvärdigt bra.

In addition to degree emphasis, märkvärdigt can convey the sense of “strangely” in contexts of surprise or irony, as in märkvärdigt nog att allt gick fel, meaning “oddly enough that everything went wrong.” In modern Swedish it is relatively common in written language and in formal speech, but less frequent in casual conversation. It tends to carry a slightly literary or elevated tone, and is often preferred when the speaker wants to underline exceptional character or unexpectedness. Synonyms include märklig, which describes something unusual or noteworthy, while märkvärdigt emphasizes the intensity or surprising nature of the quality.

Etymology and history: märkvärktig comes from märkvärdig, the adjective meaning remarkable or notable. The adverbial form with the -t suffix is the standard derivation in Swedish. The construction is attested from the early modern period and remains in current usage, particularly in literary or journalistic prose. In other Scandinavian languages, cognates such as Danish mærkværdigt reflect a shared Germanic origin.

See also: märklig; märkvärdig.