bokstavligen

Swedish

Etymology

bokstavlig +‎ -en

Adverb

bokstavligen

1. literally (not figuratively, allegorically, etc. – in truth)

   Jag tror du har missförstått. Nisse är bokstavligen en kanin. Vi döpte vår kanin till Nisse.

   I think you have misunderstood. Nisse is literally a rabbit. We named our rabbit Nisse.

2. literally (exactly matching or corresponding to the original word(s) (of for example a translation))

   Synonym: ordagrant

   "Mardi gras" betyder bokstavligen "fet tisdag"

   "Mardi gras" literally means "fat Tuesday"

3. virtually, literally (as an emphasizer)

Usage notes

See the usage notes for ordagrann.

Related terms

• bokstav
• bokstavlig

References

• bokstavligen in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• bokstavligen in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)