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adjective

hederlig

honest

Definition & meaning

Hederlig means honest, honorable, or decent. It describes a person who acts fairly and can be trusted, or conduct that is morally upright.

It can also mean good old-fashioned or straightforward, especially when describing something ordinary and dependable.

Grammar & Word origin

An adjective:

  • Common gender: hederlig
  • Neuter: hederligt
  • Plural and definite form: hederliga
  • Comparative: hederligare
  • Superlative: hederligast

It is formed from heder , meaning “honor,” and the adjective suffix -lig.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • ärlig — “honest,” especially truthful and not deceptive.
  • rättskaffens — “upright” or “decent,” emphasizing strong moral character.
  • ordentlig — “proper” or “decent”; broader than hederlig and often concerned with orderliness or reliability.

Antonyms:

  • ohederlig — “dishonest” or “dishonorable,” the direct opposite.
  • oärlig — “dishonest,” especially untruthful or deceptive.

Common phrases & collocations

  • en hederlig människa — an honest, decent person.
  • ett hederligt arbete — honest work.
  • en gammal hederlig — a good old-fashioned or familiar, dependable one.

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Examples

Hon är en hederlig person.adjective

She is an honest person.

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