oönskvärd

oönskvärd is a Swedish adjective meaning undesired or unwanted. It describes things judged not to be desired or things that should be avoided, such as effects, outcomes, behavior, or conditions. The term is common in everyday language as well as in formal texts, including policy papers, journalism, and academic writing.

Etymology: The form is built from the negating prefix o- attached to önskvärd, which means desirable. The root önsk- comes from önska, to wish, and värd conveys worthiness in the sense of something that is desirable. Together they express the opposite of desire; adding the prefix o- yields the meaning “unwanted” or “undesirable.”

Usage: Typical collocations include oönskvärd effekt, oönskade konsekvenser, and en oönskvärd reklamkampanj. The word works across registers, from risk assessments and policy discussions to media coverage and everyday conversation. It often carries a normative tone, signaling that the described thing should be avoided or mitigated.

Related forms and nuance: Another common term is oönskad, which has a similar meaning but can be more neutral and concrete. The choice between oönskvärd and oönskad depends on the degree of evaluative judgment and the grammatical context. In Swedish, oönskvärd is used in both singular and plural forms (oönskvärd, oönskvärda) and conforms to standard adjective inflection.