upprätt

Upprätt is a Swedish adjective describing something that is vertical, standing straight, or in an upright position. It is used for physical posture and orientation, as in someone standing up straight or a structure that is erected in an upright stance. In a broader sense it can also convey a sense of moral integrity or principled conduct, though this ethical use is more literary or formal and less common in everyday speech.

Etymology and forms: Upprätt derives from up- (up, upwards) and rätt (correct, straight), with the sense of setting something back to its correct, vertical position. The related verb is upprätta, meaning to set upright or to restore to a proper position. The word is most commonly encountered in Swedish in its attributive and predicative forms, for example in phrases like “upprätt läge” (upright position) or “stå upprätt.”

Usage: In physical contexts, upprätt describes posture, alignment, or construction, such as a person standing up, a ladder held upright, or a monument erected in an upprätt position. In a moral or character sense, it can mean principled, honest, or morally sound, but this sense is somewhat formal or literary and often conveyed by related expressions rather than by the adjective alone.

Related terms and contrasts: Synonyms include rak (straight), stående (standing), and upprättfyra is not standard; antonyms include böjd (bent), vinglig (unstable), and liggande (lying). A related noun form is upprättelse, meaning restoration, redress, or restitution, though it is not a direct synonym of upprätt itself.

Note: Usage varies by context, with the physical sense being the most common in contemporary Swedish.