oundvikligt

Oundvikligt is a Swedish adjective meaning inevitable or unavoidable. It is used to describe events, outcomes, or processes that cannot be prevented or escaped. The word can function predicatively as in “Det var oundvikligt” and attributively with a noun as in “ett oundvikligt resultat.” The related adverb form is usually “oundvikligen,” meaning “inevitably.”

Etymology and form

Oundvikligt is formed from the verb undvika (to avoid) with the negating prefix o- and the suffix -lig, which yields the base adjective oundviklig and its neuter form oundvikligt. The prefix conveys negation, producing a sense of something that cannot be avoided. The term has a long-standing presence in standard Swedish and is commonly used across genres, from everyday speech to formal discourse.

Usage and context

Oundvikligt often appears in discussions of causality, consequences, or fate. It can refer to natural or social events that follow an inexorable course, as well as to logical or historical inevitabilities. In philosophy or analysis, it may be contrasted with notions of agency or contingency. The word is widely understood and remains a neutral, precise descriptor rather than a value-laden judgment.

Translations and related terms

In English, oundvikligt corresponds to “inevitable” or “unavoidable.” Related Swedish forms include oundviklig (the feminine form) and oundvikligt (the neuter form). The adverbial counterpart is oundvikligen (inevitably).