oavsiktliga

Oavsiktliga is a Swedish adjective meaning unintentional or unintended, used to describe actions, effects, or outcomes that occur without deliberate purpose. The base form is oavsiktlig; the form oavsiktliga is used for the indefinite plural and, in definite constructions, the definite singular (for example den oavsiktliga handlingen). The adverbial form is oavsiktligt, as in Det var oavsiktligt.

Etymology is straightforward: it combines the negating prefix o- with avsiktlig, a word meaning intentional or deliberate. Avsiktlig itself derives from av- (from) and sikt (aim or intention), so oavsiktliga literally means “not intentional.”

Usage and nuance: In everyday Swedish, oavsiktliga describes mistakes, accidents, or outcomes that were not planned or intended. Common phrases include oavsiktliga misstag (unintended mistakes) and oavsiktliga konsekvenser (unintended consequences). In legal, ethical, or safety contexts, the term helps to distinguish actions that were not deliberate from those that were avsiktliga (intentional). It can apply to people, actions, or events, and it often appears in discussions of responsibility, negligence, or risk assessment. Its antonym is avsiktlig (intentional) or avsiktligt when used adverbially.

See also: avsiktlig, oavsiktligt, olycka, intention, konsekvens.