ärlig

Ärlig is a Swedish adjective used to describe someone who speaks the truth and acts with integrity. It encompasses honesty, truthfulness in statements, and fairness in judgment. In everyday language, ärlig can refer to a person who is reliable and not deceitful, as well as to actions and assessments that are conducted straightforwardly.

Etymology: The word traces to an older Germanic root connected with honor and nobility. In Swedish, ärlighet is the noun form and ärligt is the adverbial form.

Usage: Ärlig is commonly used to describe people (en ärlig vän), and to praise or critique remarks (en ärlig bedömning). It coexists with related terms such as hederlig and tillförlitlig; while there is overlap, ärlighet emphasizes truthfulness and transparency more than mere reliability. The phrase ärligt talat means 'to be honest' and is used to preface a candid statement.

Cultural significance: In many Swedish contexts, ärlighet is considered a valued ethical trait, and proverbial expressions such as ärlighet varar längst underscore the importance of truth-telling. The term appears in literature, rhetoric, and everyday discourse as a standard for moral character.