verb

ligga

lie

Att vara i en horisontell position, ofta på en säng eller marken.

Definition & meaning

Ligga primarily means to lie or to be lying down. It can describe a person resting horizontally or an object positioned on a surface.

It also has several extended meanings:

To be located: a place or building is situated somewhere.
To remain or be kept: something is left in a particular place or state.
To have sex: an informal meaning, often used with med.
To be at a level: a value, price or result is at a certain point.

Grammar & Word origin

Ligga is an irregular verb:

Infinitive: ligga
Present: ligger
Past: låg
Supine: legat

It is an old Germanic word related to English “lie” in the sense of reclining or being situated. It does not mean “lie” in the sense of telling an untruth.

Unlike lägga , “to lay” or “to put down,” ligga generally describes a position rather than the action of placing something.

Synonyms & antonyms

vila — “to rest”; focuses on relaxation rather than specifically being horizontal.
befinna sig — “to be situated” or “to be”; broader than ligga and not limited to things with a fixed location.
stå — “to stand”; can contrast with ligga when describing an upright rather than horizontal position.
sitta — “to sit”; contrasts with lying down when describing a person’s posture.