ett hinder

Definition & meaning

Hinder is a Swedish noun meaning an obstacle, hindrance, or impediment—something that makes an action more difficult or prevents it from happening.

It can also refer to a physical obstacle, for example one that must be cleared in a course or competition.

Grammar & Word origin

Hinder is a neuter noun: ett hinder. Its plural form is also hinder; the definite singular is hindret.

It is related to the verb hindra ↗, meaning “to hinder” or “to prevent.”

Synonyms & antonyms

• svårighet ↗ — “difficulty”; emphasizes that something is hard to do, rather than an obstacle that blocks it.
• förhinder ↗ — “impediment” or “reason one cannot attend”; often used for a circumstance that prevents someone from doing something.
• barriär ↗ — “barrier”; usually suggests a more concrete or clearly defined obstacle.

Possible opposites include:

• möjlighet ↗ — “opportunity” or “possibility.”
• förutsättning ↗ — “prerequisite” or “favorable condition”; something that enables an action rather than obstructing it.

Common phrases & collocations

• utgöra ett hinder för ↗ — “to constitute an obstacle to.”
• sätta hinder i vägen för ↗ — “to put obstacles in the way of.”
• utan hinder ↗ — “without obstruction” or “without difficulty.”
• få förhinder ↗ — “to be prevented from attending or doing something.”