vilse

Swedish

Etymology

vill +‎ -se. Used as an adverb in 1588, based on the adjective vill (“lost”). A few centuries later the adverb was formed into a new adjective vilsen.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

vilse (comparative mer vilse, superlative mest vilse)

1. to a lost state, no longer knowing where one is, having lost orientation

   Vi har gått vilse. Har någon en karta?

   We have gotten [walked] lost. Does anybody have a map?

   Jag tror de är vilse

   I think they are lost

Usage notes

Can combine with any motion, like åka vilse (get lost driving), springa vilse (get lost running), flyga vilse (get lost flying), hoppa vilse (get lost jumping, like a rabbit might), etc.

Derived terms

• gå vilse

References

• vilse in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• vilse in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• vilse in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• vilse in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)