upersonlig

Upersonlig is a Swedish adjective meaning impersonal or non-personal. It describes language, tone, or contexts in which no specific person is involved or identified.

In linguistics, upersonlig refers to impersonal constructions—sentences that lack a personal subject or attribute actions to a non-personal element. Swedish uses expletive or dummy subjects, such as “det” in sentences like “Det regnar” (it is raining) or “Det finns” (there is/are), to convey an impersonal meaning.

In written communication and official discourse, an upersonlig or opersonlig style aims at neutrality, precision, and universality, avoiding first- or second-person references. This approach is common in manuals, scientific reports, legal texts, and formal journalism, where the focus is on information rather than on individuals.

Etymology and usage notes: the term is formed from the base word “personlig” with a negating prefix. The more widespread contemporary form is “opersonlig”; “upersonlig” appears as a variant in some texts or older sources. Both forms are understood to convey an impersonal or neutral tone, though spelling preference can vary by style guide or register.