påtagligt

Påtagligt is a Swedish adjective meaning “tangible”, “perceptible” or “noticeably present”. It is used to describe something that can be felt, seen, or otherwise sensed in a clear and concrete way, as opposed to abstract or theoretical concepts. In everyday language, the term often qualifies changes, effects, or characteristics that are evident to the senses or to common experience, for example “en påtaglig förbättring” (a noticeable improvement) or “en påtaglig skillnad” (a discernible difference).

Etymologically, påtagligt derives from the verb påtaga, which historically meant “to take up” or “to adopt”. The suffix –ligt forms an adjective, indicating that the quality is inherent to the subject. The word entered modern Swedish usage in the 19th century, influenced by similar constructions in German and English that convey a sense of physical or perceptible presence.

In academic and technical contexts, påtagligt is employed to distinguish measurable phenomena from theoretical ones. For instance, in psychology, a påtaglig förändring refers to an observable behavioral shift, while in engineering it may denote a tangible alteration in material properties.

Synonyms include märkbart, tydligt, och synligt, though each carries subtle nuances: märkbart emphasizes recognizability, tydligt stresses clarity, and synligt highlights visual accessibility. The antonym is oftast “oinpåverkad” or “obemerkat”, indicating that something is not readily perceived.