preposition

bland

among

När flera saker är tillsammans på samma plats, men inte blandade ihop helt.

Definition & meaning

bland is a Swedish preposition meaning “among,” “amid,” or “in the midst of.” It is used when someone or something is part of a group, collection, or surrounding environment.

bland människor — among people
bland träden — among the trees
bland mina vänner — among my friends
en av de bästa bland många — one of the best among many

It can also mean “between” when referring to several possible choices or categories:

bland flera alternativ — among several alternatives

The related expression bland annat means “among other things” or “among others.”

Grammar & Word origin

bland is a preposition. The noun following it normally appears in the definite or indefinite form appropriate to the sentence:

bland barn — among children
bland barnen — among the children

The word comes from Old Swedish and is related to blanda , meaning “to mix” or “to blend.” The original idea is being mixed together with or surrounded by others.

Do not confuse bland with ibland , which means “sometimes.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

mitt ibland — right among or in the very midst of; stronger and more emphatic than bland.
i — “in,” sometimes used in a similar way when emphasizing being within a group or environment.
mellan — “between”; usually refers to two things or to a position separating things, whereas bland usually refers to being part of a larger group.