knappast
hardly
Ett ord som visar att något nästan inte är sant eller att chansen är mycket liten.
Definition & meaning
The word knappast is an adverb primarily used to express a high degree of doubt or to indicate that something is very unlikely to be the case. It is most commonly translated into English as "hardly," "scarcely," or "unlikely."
There are two main nuances to its usage:
- Unlikelihood: It is used to suggest that a statement or event is probably not true or will not happen. For example, if someone says "Det händer knappast," they mean "That will hardly happen" or "That is very unlikely to happen."
- Degree or limit: It can indicate that something is only just achieved or is barely sufficient, though in this sense it is often interchangeable with the related word knappt .
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar: "Knappast" is the superlative form of the adjective knapp , which means "scant," "tight," or "scarce." While it functions as the superlative (meaning "most scarce"), it has evolved into a standalone adverb used to modify entire sentences or specific verbs to denote doubt.
Word origin: The word originates from the Old Swedish "knapper," which refers to something being narrow, small, or insufficient. It shares roots with the Middle Low German word "knap," meaning "narrow" or "tight." It is also related to the modern German word "knapp."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- knappt (scarcely/barely)
- svårligen (hardly/with difficulty)
- föga (little/scarcely)
- näppeligen (hardly/scarcely - a more formal or archaic term)
- omöjligen (impossible/hardly possible)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Han springer knappast varje dag.adverb
He hardly runs every day.
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