rettskaffen

Rättskaffen is a Swedish adjective meaning proper, decent, or respectable, and in some uses also legitimate or correct. The term emphasizes conformity to social norms and moral standards rather than mere adequacy. In legal or formal language it can imply that something meets required standards or is appropriate for a given purpose.

Historically and in literary Swedish, rättskaffen is used to describe people whose conduct earns trust and respect, for example a “rättskaffen medborgare” or a “rättskaffen man.” It can also describe actions, procedures, or documents that are in proper order or compliant with rules. The nuance combines notions of morality, propriety, and suitability.

In contemporary everyday speech the word is relatively formal or archaic; speakers might use synonyms such as hederlig, riktig, passande, or korrekt instead. The variant rettskaffen without the diacritic ä is sometimes found in non-diacritic texts or in certain dialects.

Overall, rättskaffen is a traditional term for someone or something that upholds respected standards of conduct or legitimacy, and it appears most often in historical, literary, or formal contexts rather than casual conversation. Related terms include hederlig, korrekt, passande, and legitim.