utom

Utom is a Swedish preposition meaning "except" or "outside of," used to indicate exclusion from a group, set, or scope. It commonly precedes a noun phrase or a time or place expression and governs the elements that lie outside the specified boundary. For example: "Alla utom mig var närvarande" means "Everyone except me was present," and "Öppettiderna gäller måndag till fredag, utom helgerna" means "The opening hours apply Monday to Friday, outside of weekends."

Etymology and classification: Utom is considered a compound form connected to the broader Germanic family of prepositions dealing with out or beyond. It is viewed as a directional or boundary-marking particle that functions to mark exclusion or external limits in combination with the elements it introduces.

Usage notes: Utom is used in standard Swedish and appears in both written and formal speech. In everyday conversation, speakers may choose other expressions such as "förutom" to convey similar senses of exclusion or addition, depending on regional preference and context. Utom is particularly useful when precision about who or what is outside a defined set is required, or when indicating an area or period that lies beyond a defined boundary.

See also: utan, ut, förutom, utanför.