tillbygga

Tillbygga is a Swedish verb that means to add an extension to an existing building, enlarging it by incorporating new space. It is formed from till- meaning “to” or “toward” and bygga meaning “to build.” The related noun tillbyggnad denotes the extension itself, the added structure.

Usage and meaning

Tillbygga is used in construction, architecture, real estate, and planning to describe the act of enlarging a building by adding new rooms or spaces. Typical phrasing is att tillbygga ett hus or att tillbygga kök och vardagsrum. The past participle tillbyggd can describe a building that has already received an extension, as in ett tillbyggt hus. In planning contexts, tillbygga is often contrasted with other forms of expansion such as påbyggnad (an upper or stacked addition) and utbyggnad (general expansion, sometimes of facilities or infrastructure).

Etymology and related terms

Tillbygga is a compound of till- and bygga. Related Swedish terms include tillbyggnad (the extension itself), påbyggnad (an addition on top or an elevated extension), and utbyggnad (expansion or extension more broadly). In Norwegian and Danish, cognate forms exist (tilbygge, tilbygg) with similar meanings.

Examples and usage notes

In neutral or technical language, one might say: “Företaget planerar att tillbygga ett nytt kontor.” and describe the result as “ett tillbyggt kontor.” The term is common in housing and municipal planning discussions and is understood in everyday conversation about home renovations.