utåtvända

Utåtvända is a Swedish adjective used to describe a tendency to be outward-facing or extroverted, often referring to people but also to design or orientation of objects and spaces. In the social sense, it denotes an inclination to engage with others and with external stimuli rather than to retreat inward. In a design or architectural context, it can describe sides, façades, or elements that face outward toward the surrounding environment.

Etymology and form: the term is built from the prefix ut- meaning outward and the verb vända (to turn). The participial form utåtvänd is used for singular references, while utåtvända serves as the plural or as a predicative form in general use. The word is commonly found in everyday Swedish as well as in more formal discourse, though in some contexts it may be supplanted by near-synonyms such as utåtriktad or extrovert.

Usage notes: utåtvända is often contrasted with inåtvända (introverted or inward-facing) to describe opposing orientations toward social interaction or external reality. It can describe people, character traits, or social attitudes, as in “hon är utåtvänd och trivs i sociala situationer,” or describe physical design, as in “en byggnad med utåtvända fönster.” The term is versatile but may feel somewhat informal in strictly clinical or academic writing, where utåtriktad eller extrovert are more common.

See also: extrovert, utåtriktad, introvert, inåtvänd.