tämligen

tämligen is a Swedish adverb used to indicate a moderate degree or extent. It translates to English as "rather," "fairly," "quite," or "somewhat." It suggests that something is not extreme but falls somewhere in the middle range.

The word is often employed to soften a statement or to express a degree of mildness. For example, if someone says "vädret är tämligen behagligt," it means "the weather is rather pleasant," implying it's good but not exceptionally so. Similarly, "han är tämligen nöjd" translates to "he is fairly satisfied," indicating a state of moderate contentment.

tämligen can be used with adjectives and adverbs to modify their intensity. It is a common and versatile word in everyday Swedish conversation and writing. Its usage implies a degree of understatement or a lack of strong opinion, focusing on a balanced assessment. The word originates from the German "ziemlich."