tålig

Tålig is a Swedish adjective used to describe someone or something that can endure stress, strain, or wear without breaking. The word covers both physical durability, such as materials and equipment, and more abstract resilience, such as a person’s tolerance for hardship, fatigue, or difficult conditions. In everyday language it can refer to something that holds up well over time and under use, as well as to a person who remains steady and patient in challenging situations.

Etymology and form: Tålig is formed from the verb tåla, meaning to tolerate or endure, with the common adjectival suffix -lig, which expresses a characteristic or quality. The base form is tålig, and in definite or neuter contexts Swedish inflects to fit gender and number (for example, en tålig bil, ett tåligt hus). The term is widely understood in both informal and technical registers and has parallels in meanings such as durable, robust, and hardy.

Usage and nuance: Tålig is often preferred when emphasizing practical durability or resilience rather than moral qualities. It is common in product descriptions, safety assessments, and discussions of design and engineering, as well as in everyday talk about people who cope well with pressure. Synonyms include uthållig (persevering), hållbar (durable), and tålamodig (patient), each with slightly different nuances.

See also: tåla, uthållig, hållbar, tålamod.