vettig

Vettig is an adjective used in Swedish and Norwegian to describe something or someone as sensible, prudent, or reasonable. It is commonly applied to decisions, plans, or people who show good judgment and practical sense. For example, in Swedish you might say “ett vettigt beslut” (a sensible decision) or “en vettig person” (a sensible person). In Norwegian, similar constructions exist, such as “et vettig valg” or “vettige forslag.”

Etymology and forms: The word comes from the noun vett, meaning sense or prudence, with the adjectival suffix -ig. In Swedish, the adjective agrees with gender and number: common gender singular is vettig, neuter singular is vettigt, and plural is vettiga. In Norwegian, the form and agreement follow analogous patterns, adapting to the noun’s gender and definiteness.

Usage and nuance: Vettig carries a positive connotation of sound, well-considered judgment. It is commonly used in everyday language and can describe both concrete choices and people, without implying exceptional wisdom. It is generally less formal than some synonyms for prudence in both languages, such as fornuftig in Norwegian or klok in Swedish, but it remains a standard, neutral term.

Translations and related terms: In English, vettig is typically translated as sensible, prudent, or reasonable. Related concepts include vett (sense or prudence) and other synonyms such as fornuftig (Norwegian) or klok (Swedish).