offentlig

While 'allmän' can mean 'public' in the sense of 'general public' or 'common', it doesn't carry the same nuance of 'government-related' or 'open to all by virtue of public administration' as 'offentlig'.

These are specific levels of public administration. 'Offentlig' is the broader category that includes both state and municipal entities, as well as other public-facing aspects.

Primarily refers to an audience. Only rarely, in very specific contexts, might it be used to mean 'public' in a way that could cause confusion, but 'offentlig' is the correct general term.

'Allmän' can sometimes be used in contexts where 'public' is implied, leading to confusion with 'offentlig'.

'Allmän' often refers to something general, common, or universal, rather than specifically government- or state-related.

Det är allmän kunskap. (It is common knowledge.) / Den allmänna opinionen. (The general opinion.)

The English word 'public' is a direct translation of 'publik' in some contexts, but 'publik' in Swedish primarily refers to an audience or spectators.

'Publik' almost exclusively means an audience of people watching an event, while 'offentlig' describes something that is public in nature, like a public building or public information.

Det var en stor publik på konserten. (There was a large audience at the concert.)

'Statlig' refers to something belonging to or managed by the state, which is often considered 'public' in English.

'Statlig' is more specific, referring to the state (government) level. 'Offentlig' is broader and can encompass municipal or regional public entities, or simply something that is open to everyone.

Det är en statlig myndighet. (It is a state authority.)

Similar to 'statlig', 'kommunal' refers to something belonging to a municipality, which is also a type of public entity.

'Kommunal' is specific to the municipal level of government. 'Offentlig' is the overarching term for anything public, regardless of the administrative level.

Det är en kommunal skola. (It is a municipal school.)

'Öppen' means open, and something that is 'open to the public' might lead to confusion.

'Öppen' describes a state of being accessible or not closed. 'Offentlig' describes the nature of something as belonging to or concerning the people as a whole, often implying public ownership or administration.

Dörren är öppen. (The door is open.) / Museet är öppet för alla. (The museum is open to everyone.)