oläsligt

Oläsligt is a Swedish term used as an adjective or adverb to describe text, handwriting, or symbols that cannot be read due to illegibility or poor readability. It covers writing that is too unclear, damaged, or insufficiently contrasted to be understood, and it can also be used metaphorically to describe reasoning or presentation that is unclear.

Etymology and form: Oläsligt is formed from the negative prefix o- added to a root related to reading, connected to the adjective oläslig meaning illegible. The form oläsligt functions as an adverb or, in certain contexts, as a neuter adjective or describing attribute. Its related opposite is läsbar (readable); related antonyms include tydlig or klart (clear).

Usage and nuance: In everyday Swedish, oläsligt is commonly applied to physical text such as handwritten notes, printed documents, or signs where the script, font, size, ink, or contrast hindering readability makes it impossible to decipher. It can also be used in a broader sense to describe communications or explanations that are hard to follow. The term tends to convey a stronger degree of illegibility than merely “not easily read,” emphasizing that reading is effectively infeasible without significant effort.

See also: Readability, legibility, läsbarhet, readability studies, typografi, handstil.