hemsk

Swedish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Swedish hemsker (“foolish”), derived from hem (“home”). The original meaning was "who has only stayed at home" or "who has not been out in the world", thus "stupid" or "easily terrified". Cognate of Icelandic heimskur. Compare English homely.

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

hemsk (comparative hemskare, superlative hemskast)

  1. ghastly, frightful, horrifying, evil, dark, terrible
    Pojken tyckte att filmen var hemsk.
    The boy thought the film was horrifying.
    Det är hemskt att se djur lida.
    It’s horrible to see suffering animals.
    Denna planen är så hemsk.
    This is such an evil plan.
    Nu får jag såna hemska tankar.
    I’m having such dark thoughts right now.
    Förlåt mig, jag är hemskt ledsen.
    Excuse me, I’m terribly sorry.

Declension

Inflection of hemsk
Indefinite positive comparative superlative1
common singular hemsk hemskare hemskast
neuter singular hemskt hemskare hemskast
plural hemska hemskare hemskast
masculine plural2 hemske hemskare hemskast
Definite positive comparative superlative
masculine singular3 hemske hemskare hemskaste
all hemska hemskare hemskaste

1 The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
2 Dated or archaic.
3 Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.

Synonyms

Further reading

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