utflykt

Utflykt is a Swedish noun that denotes a short trip away from home for recreation, education, or social purposes. It typically refers to a day trip or a few hours spent outside, and can take place in natural settings such as forests, parks, lakes, or rural areas, as well as at museums, farms, or other cultural sites. Utflykter are common among families, schools, clubs, and workplaces as a way to combine leisure with learning, social interaction, or team-building. Typical activities include walking or hiking, picnicking, sightseeing, nature observation, or visiting attractions.

Etymology and usage: the word is formed from ut-, meaning “out,” and flykt, which in older usage conveyed the sense of flight or departure. In modern Swedish, utflykt refers to leaving one’s usual location for a brief excursion rather than escape. The plural form is utflykter. The phrase används ofta with prepositions such as “på en utflykt” or “en utflykt till,” and it can describe both spontaneous outings and organized trips.

Contexts and cultural notes: utflykter are embedded in everyday life and education in Sweden. Schools regularly organize klass-utflykter to museums, historical sites, or natural areas. Families plan weekend utflykter to parks, beaches, or nature reserves. The concept is closely related to friluftsliv, the tradition of outdoor living and appreciation of nature, and it complements other travel terms such as tur (a trip or hike) or dagsutflykt (one-day excursion).

See also: friluftsliv, tur, dagsutflykt.