äntligen

Äntligen is a Swedish adverb meaning at last or finally. It is used to express relief, satisfaction, or the sense that a delay, effort, or anticipation has ended. The word appears in both everyday speech and formal writing and signals that a desired outcome has been achieved or a long wait has concluded.

Usage and placement are flexible. It commonly appears after an auxiliary verb: Vi har äntligen fått svar. It can also precede the main verb or modify a clause: Nu är det äntligen slut. Äntligen hemma is a common expression meaning “finally home.” The word can function as an interjection for a strong, immediate exclamation: Äntligen!

Etymology notes are not settled in everyday reference, but most linguistic discussions link äntligen to an adverbial formation with the suffix -ligen, used to express a final or concluding sense. The root element is associated with culmination or termination, hence the meaning “at last.”

Translations and equivalents include finally, at last, and, in some contexts, last but not least, depending on nuance. In Swedish, äntligen often carries a positive or relieved tone, though it can express exasperation if used humorously or emphatically.

Examples:

- Vi har äntligen hittat ett fel. (We have finally found a fault/figured out the problem.)

- Nu är det äntligen sommar. (Now summer is finally here.)

- Äntligen! (Finally!)