en anledning

Definition & meaning

Anledning means reason, cause, or motive—the explanation for why something happens or why someone does something.

Common uses:

• anledning till = reason/cause for (something)
  “Anledningen till att jag är sen …” = “The reason I’m late …”
• ha anledning att = have reason to (do/think something)
  “Jag har anledning att tro …” = “I have reason to believe …”
• med anledning av = due to / on the occasion of
  (often in formal language)

A related meaning is occasion or grounds for doing something (a reason that justifies an action).

Grammar & Word origin

• Part of speech: noun (common gender)
  en anledning, anledningen, anledningar, anledningarna
• Word parts: an- + ledning (“leading/guidance/direction”), historically connected to the idea of something that leads to or gives grounds for an action or conclusion.

Synonyms & antonyms

Swedish synonyms (near equivalents):

• orsak↗ (cause)
• skäl↗ (reason/grounds)
• motiv↗ (motive)
• grund↗ (basis/ground)
• anledning tillfälle↗ (occasion) (only when “anledning” means “occasion”)

Swedish antonyms (when applicable):

• följd↗ (consequence/result) (opposite relation: cause vs. effect)
• resultat↗ (result) (same idea: effect vs. cause)