rättvist

Rättvist is a Swedish adverb meaning fairly or justly. It also relates to the adjective rättvis and to the noun rättvisa, which denotes justice or fairness. The adverb form is created from the base adjective by the standard Swedish pattern that turns adjectives into adverbs with the -vist/-tt ending.

Etymology and form: The word stems from the concept of right or correct, with historical roots in the Old Norse form réttar, related to the idea of what is proper or rightful. In modern Swedish, rättvist is used to describe actions, processes, or outcomes that are balanced and impartial.

Usage and nuance: Rättvist describes conduct or results that are even-handed and free of bias. It is commonly used with verbs and nouns such as behandla (to treat), fördela (to allocate), or uppdelning (distribution). Examples include: Det är rättvist att dela uppgifterna lika mellan alla. Det känns rättvist att få vara med och bestämma. In everyday language, it contrasts with orättvist (unfair).

Relation to justice: Rättvisa is the broader philosophical and legal concept of justice, while rättvist focuses on the manner in which actions or decisions are carried out. Debates about distributive justice, procedural fairness, or equality before the law often employ the term rättvisa, with rättvist describing how those principles are applied in practice.

Regional and stylistic notes: The term is neutral and widely used in formal and informal Swedish. It is cognate with related terms in other Scandinavian languages, though usage and exact meaning may differ slightly across languages.